By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle
The provincial and city governments will conduct separate investigations on reported expensive prices of fish by local vendors amid reports that a few businessmen are monopolizing the fishing industry here.
The high prices of fish alarmed Boholanos while visiting tourists commented on "why fish is expensive here when Bohol is known as a fishing village."
Prices of good quality fish in the market could never be as low as P130 per kilo, when it used to be priced at P80 per kilo only.
The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) has called an urgent multi-sectoral consultative meeting on Tuesday with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), representatives of fisherfolk and fish vendors organizations to come up with recommendations regarding the high cost of fish in the province.
PAO head Liza Quirog called the consultative meeting after first district Rep. Edgar Chatto expressed concern over the frequent discussions and complaints aired over top-rated "Inyong Alagad" program of dyRD about the high cost of fish sold in the markets.
An enforcement measure is likewise being sought to address the so-called fish cartel here which is reportedly controlled by three bigtime fish compradors.
Bohol has the highest selling price of fish not only in the Visayas but in country, according to reports. The shortage in supply of fish is caused by the compradors, creating an "artificial shortage" on the local market.
One fish comprador here in the city allegedly ship fish daily to processing plants and buyers in Manila and Mindanao.
City Mayor Dan Lim bared over his weekly "Mayor's Report" yesterday that all fishing vessels docking at the City fish ports in Sitio Ubos and in barangay Manga will soon be required to secure a license.
In order to control pricing and monopoly in the trade of fish, "fishing vessels will not be allowed to dock at the fish terminal unless they are accredited," Lim said.
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