DAGUPAN CITY — Authorities here seized 17,617.5 tons of milkfish (bangus) from fish kill-affected areas in western Pangasinan from Saturday to Monday.
City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina, in an interview with newsmen on Monday, said the Dagupan City Police apprehended three cargo trucks loaded with milkfish driven by Perfecto Cacho, Lorence Espinocillia, and Richie Cano on Saturday.
Marjorie Villanueva, Aquaculture Technologist in the City Agriculture Office (CAO), said the fish vendors at the public market reported the suspicious low price of milkfish sold to them.
“One banyera (tub) weighs 30 kilos. If each banyera is being sold for PHP1,000 each, then we have about PHP30 per kilogram of milkfish, which to the vendors is suspicious considering that there was massive fish kill in some towns in Anda and Bolinao,” she said.
Cacho unloaded 6,075 tons of milkfish, while Espinocillia and Cano sold 23. 85 tons of milkfish to the fish vendors at the city’s public market, she added.
Molina said the truck drivers were not able to show any auxiliary invoice or any document, which proved that the milkfish were good harvest and safe for human consumption.
She said some fish samples were examined by the City Health Office (CHO) and the CAO, and were eventually declared unfit for consumption.
City Health Officer Dr. Ophelia Rivera disclosed that consumption of milkfish from fish kill could lead to allergic reaction, causing itchiness as well as stomachache and diarrhea or loose bowel movements.
Molina further said the confiscated milkfish were buried to the open area in Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at Bonuan Binloc here.
A case of violation of City Fishing Ordinance no. 1768-2003 Section 73 on failure to secure Auxiliary Invoice, Presidential Decree 856 and City Ordinance no. 1927-2009 or Sanitation Code (No Sanitary Permit and Health Certificate Card), among other cases, are being filed against the suspects.
Meanwhile, Mayor Belen Fernandez issued a standing order to CAO, Dagupan Police and CHO to double up security in the markets 24 hours a day, seven days a week to prevent the entry of milkfish, which died from fish kill, coming from the towns of Anda and Bolinao.
Following the order, more banyera of milkfish sold at PHP1,000 each were confiscated on Monday, which resulted in over 17,000 tons of milkfish seized by the city’s authorities.
Fernandez, in her official Facebook account, warned the people trying to smuggle fish kill milkfish in the city that they will face harsh penalties if caught.
“We won’t allow them to kill our industry and much more to affect the health of our people. This is misleading our consumers through selling at a lower price on a product unfit for consumption. We will also inspect all deboning area. All caught deboning the fish for resale will face charges as well,” she said.
Fernandez also assured the public that the milkfish sold in Dagupan City are safe for human consumption.
“We are managing our river where 928 fish pen were demolished since I started as a Mayor. It took us five years to clean our river thru consultation and allowing time for big investors not from Dagupan to harvest to avoid losses. Today, our waters are clear and oysters are back. Our Bangus industry is protected. I won’t allow them to kill our industry and much more to affect the health of our people,” Fernandez said. (Ahikam Pasion/PNA)
