The fishing group Pamalakaya raised concerns after the price of tawilis (Sardinella tawilis) dropped from ₱250 to ₱100 per kilo in several Cavite towns. The price slump follows reports that bodies of missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts) were allegedly dumped in Taal Lake, prompting public fear about consuming fish from the area.
Fernando Hicap, president of Pamalakaya, warned that this market drop will further hurt farm-gate prices, reducing fishermen’s income. This is despite the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) assuring that fish from Taal Lake remain safe for consumption.
Pamalakaya urged the Department of Agriculture and BFAR to intervene by buying directly from affected fishermen and restoring public confidence in fish sourced from Taal.
The Philippine Coast Guard has begun retrieval operations to search for the missing sabungeros, whose disappearances date back to April 2021 to January 2022.
