The Department of Agriculture (DA) relaunches the Bohol Fish Market and TienDA at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center in Tagbilaran City, to provide consumers quality, safe and inexpensive agricultural produce.

The initiatives aim to stabilize, if not lower, the prices of fish and other agri produce sold in the market and ensure that the local supply meets the demand.

This time, fishes sold at the Fish Market are sourced from local fishermen to give them more opportunities to sell their products.

“Instead of Boholanos importing fish from the Zamboanga Peninsula, they are now selling their own catch,” Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said during the event held on March 2, 2109.

As such, prices have posted a notable drop from their old value when the markets were first set in motion.

Galunggong, for example, is now being sold from P90-120/kilo, from its P200 price range during the August 2018 opening.

To support local fishermen, DA is now reviewing RA 10654 or the act to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF). In addition, DA together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have proposed to allow commercial fishing industry to fish within 15 meter (m) radius (or depending on the depth of the water) in two fishing areas of the province, and allow marine scientists to document and explore beyond 15 m radius to ensure that there will be sufficient fish supply for Bohol consumers.

The second fish market was participated by 18 fishing organization and around 6 farmers organizations selling vegetables and processed agri produced. Well milled rice and Premium Rice were also sold at P44/ kilo and P47/ kilo respectively.

The Bohol Fish Market and TienDA will be staged every Friday and Saturday, and will be duplicated in other areas of the province.### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)