A technical working group created for the purpose of monitoring fish prices both in Cebu and Bohol markets was surprised to learn that prices of the staple in the province is more expensive. This developed as the provincial government never keeps its guard down even as its vigorous campaign for reasonable prices of fish goes on without let-up. This came as different fish species sold in the different markets in the province are being monitored by active members of the technical working group (TWG) on fish prices apparently to prevent the unreasonable increases. In its latest monitoring activities in the towns' and city markets and outside the province, the TWG on fish prices bared that there are discrepancies in retail prices of fish in the markets located in the municipalities. For instance, fish Anduhaw cost the buyer P120/kilo in Talibon; P130 in Getafe; P150 in Tagbilaran City but P110/kl in Carbon market, Cebu City, according to a monitoring report dated January 21, 2011.

Other discrepancies are also evident. Tulingan costs Ph 120/kl in Getafe, Tubigon and Guindulman but it is only P90/kl in Carbon market, Cebu City. There was no price tag for tulingan in this city, said the report. Tamarong is sold at ranges between P130-140 in this city and Garcia-Hernandez but cost P100/kl. in Pasil, Cebu City. Milk fish (bangus) is sold at P100/kl in Calape and Getafe; P120 in Guindulman; P130 in Mabini, Ubay and Talibon; and P110 in both Carbon and Pasil, Cebu City. The monitoring report, however, did not state how much the supply of a certain fish variety in a certain market at a given time when the monitoring was conducted.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) through Maximino Servillon revealed that fish supply in the province was “dwindling.” Servillon said Bohol used to have 165 metric tons of fish catch in 2009 but this have been decreased to some 102 MT last year very much lower than five years ago. Commercial fishers also pointed out that some supply are brought to Cebu and other landing areas outside the province for better prices. Since a lot of them converge in one or two landing areas, the supply swells resulting to lower prices. But commercial fish traders argued that their trades do not only produce some 16% of the total supply as compared to 57% (3,939 MT) produce by municipal fishing as claimed by BAS. It may be about 50-50, they said.

BAS said that per capita consumption or average fish consumption per Boholano is about 26% per year. With more than 1.2 million population, the province needs about 336,000 MT per year or about 61%. Fish is the most common source of protein among Boholanos. There is a gap (insufficient supply) of about 39% that must be supplemented to satisfy the food requirement. According to Elmer Chavez, one of the biggest fishing boat operators in Bohol said that some of them are resorting to “buy-and-sell” of fish supply outside Bohol. He said he was buying some 480 “banyeras” or boxes of about 30 kilos per container of fish from General Santos City every week. Others also are doing the same. They are also supplying between 30 boxes to a hundred not only sourcing from the General Santos City but also from Plaridel and other parts of Mindanao.