The volume of fish unloaded at the various regional fish ports stood 34.7 percent higher in April, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) said.
According to the PFDA, the volume of fish unloaded totaled 60,256.88 MT versus only 32,694.01 MT a year earlier.
This was also nine percent higher than a month earlier when this totaled only 55,277.46 MT.
The agency said this was the highest volume of fish unloaded in recorded history.
The regional fish ports under PFDA monitoring include Bulan in Sorsogon; Sual in Pangasinan; General Santos; Davao; Zamboanga; Lucena in Quezon Province; Iloilo; and Navotas.
Department of Agriculture (DA) monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region show the retail price of fish per kilo range from P120 to P260 for milkfish, P95 to P160 for tilapia, P160 to P280 for galunggong, P240 to P360 for alumahan, P160 to P200 for bonito, P150 to P260 for salmon head, P80 to P200 for tamban, P270 to P450 for squid, and P140 to P300 for tambakol.
Also, as much as 199,268 hectares of rice and corn crops may have been impacted by tropical depression (TD) Aghon in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Caraga, according to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management operations center.
Some 160,400 hectares were planted to rice of which 30,340 hectares or 18.92 percent were still seedlings and 30,340 hectares to corn.
The DA advised farmers to harvest mature crops, use post-harvest facilities; secure seed reserves, planting materials and other farm inputs; as well as feed and water for livestock; relocate animals, farm machinery and equipment to higher ground; secure sufficient feeds and water for relocated animals; and clear drainage in irrigation and rice paddies of obstructions to prevent flooding.
