Red tide warning up in 5 coastal areas

By Janine Alexis Miguel

HARVESTING and selling shellfish in five coastal areas in the Philippines have been prohibited after its waters tested positive for a paralytic toxin that causes red tide.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported on Wednesday that water samples gathered from Daquis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, San Pedro Bay in Samar, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur have tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide.

BFAR added that shellfish and acetes shrimp or "alamang" collected from the said areas are not safe for human consumption. Clams, cockles, oyster, mussels and scallops collected from these areas are also unsafe to eat.

The fisheries bureau also said that shellfish are particularly prone to toxin contamination as they feed by filtering microscopic food out of the water.

"Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking," BFAR said.

Based on the BFAR's administrative order on safety and quality control standards for PSP, the maximum regulatory limit of toxins is 60 micrograms for every 100 grams of shellfish meat for both domestic and foreign markets.

BFAR also released a warning that eating shellfish from red tide areas could cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tingling sensation on lips and tongue, and in extreme cases, death.

P5/kilo increase in rice price seen

By Janine Alexis Miguel

April 8, 2023 

THE retail price of rice could go up by P5 a kilo in the next few weeks because of a lower import volume and high farm production costs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has projected.

DA deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said in a briefing Thursday he is hoping the price increase will not be as high as forecast since the government has stepped in.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has reported that a kilo of well-milled rice was selling at between 19 centavos and P2.13 higher in six trading centers toward the end of last March.

Last year, rice imports reached 3.7 million metric tons (MMT), almost 1 MMT higher than the 2.77 MMT last year, making the Philippines the world's second biggest rice importer.

But according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the volume of imported rice fell 16.20 percent year on year, translating to 3.6 MMT as of last March.

Estoperez is puzzled why rice inventories have dropped despite the increase in rice imports from the previous year.

"We are also wondering why, because we had imports of 3.8 million metric tons last year. What happened to those stocks?" Estoperez said.

Chief economist of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Michael Ricafort attributed the lower inventory to the rising price of the staple in the world market.

Ricafort predicts that "for the coming months, better weather conditions into the dry or summer season would help increase planting, harvests, and supplies of rice."

He also said the one-year extension of lower tariffs for rice, corn, and other agricultural products could help boost local supplies and help bring down prices.

Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his campaign promise of rice sold at P20 per kilo will soon become a reality.

He said that rice was already down to P25 a kilo.

Red tide warning up in 5 coastal areas

By Janine Alexis Miguel

April 8, 2023 

SHELLFISH and acetes shrimp or "alamang" collected from the coastal areas in Bohol, Samar, Surigao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur have tested positive for red tide toxins.

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) released a bulletin which showed that samples gathered from Daquis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, San Pedro Bay in Samar, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur are positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) and are not safe for human consumption.

Based on the BFAR's administrative order on safety and quality control standards for PSP, the maximum regulatory limit of toxins is 60 micrograms for every 100 grams of shellfish meat for both domestic and foreign markets.

According to BFAR, shellfish are particularly prone to toxin contamination as they feed by filtering microscopic food out of the water.

"Eating distressed or dead fish and other aquatic animals in areas affected by red tide is discouraged because the reason for the animal's strange behavior or death cannot be absolutely known," the fisheries bureau said.

DA-BFAR, meanwhile, noted that fishes, squids, shrimps, and crabs from the mentioned areas are safe to consume, "provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking."

The red tide phenomenon is caused by a bloom of algae that produce toxins that make shellfish dangerous to eat and make the water red.

The bureau also released a warning against buying, selling, catching, and eating of shellfish from the said areas as red tide could cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tingling sensation on lips and tongue, and in extreme cases, could lead to death.

Shellfish that are unsafe to eat from red tide-affected coastal areas include clams, cockles, oyster, mussels and scallops.

Davao durian exporters eye China market

Davao City is popular for its durian. PHOTO FROM DAVAO CITY WEBSITE

By Janine Alexis Miguel

DURIAN stakeholders in Davao City gear up for the exportation of the province's most abundant fruit in the China export market.

At least 54,000 metric tons of premium fresh durian is estimated to be exported this year in China. This is in line with the export deal secured by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his state visit in China last January.

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), Puyat, Duyaya and D101 were among the varieties to be exported because of its "golden yellow flesh and pleasant taste."

"I think the Philippines has a very big potential in the export market, especially with our good varieties," said Emmanuel Belviz, Durian Industry Association of Davao City president and Belviz Farms owner.

Belviz also said that this exportation is both a blessing and a responsibility.

Speaking in English and Filipino, Belviz said it is a blessing because they have a market and a good price while it is a challenge because it is an export market.

He added that they needed to produce better fruits and safer food "dahil maraming certifications ang kailangan (because more certifications are needed)."

Another durian grower, Eng Seng Food Products, shared their excitement over the opening of China market for durian exportation.

John Tan, Eng Seng Food Products chief executive officer, said they are excited because China is the biggest market for durian.

"Expect na kung open na ang China market, target namin talaga weekly meron tayong container van export," Tan said, adding that the food company targets to export 300 to 500 container vans of durian for the first year.

Belviz and Tan shared the same sentiment that the production of quality durians lies first in farmers who were trained by the Agriculture department to ensure quality production.

The DA Regional Field Offices are eyeing areas for the expansion of durian production in line with the directives of President Marcos and DA Senior Secretary Domingo Panganiban.