BATANGAS, Philippines — The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a national federation of fisherfolk, has raised alarm over the sharp drop in the market price of tawilis (Sardinella tawilis), which recently fell from ₱250 to as low as ₱100 per kilo in several towns across Cavite.
The decline comes in the wake of reports that the bodies of missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts), who disappeared between April 2021 and January 2022, were allegedly dumped in Taal Lake. The news has sparked fear among consumers, significantly affecting the fish trade in communities surrounding the lake.
According to Pamalakaya President Fernando Hicap, fisherfolk in Batangas have expressed growing concern as the sudden drop in consumer demand has started to hurt their livelihoods. “With the current market price, the farm-gate price of tawilis will definitely drop as well,” Hicap warned, highlighting the economic impact on small-scale fisherfolk who depend heavily on daily fish sales.
Although the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued a statement confirming that fish from Taal Lake remain safe for consumption, Pamalakaya says the damage to public perception has already been done.
Hicap has called on the Department of Agriculture and BFAR to step in and assist affected fishers. He urged the agencies to directly purchase tawilis from local producers and launch campaigns to restore public trust in the safety of the lake’s fish supply.
Meanwhile, technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard continue to conduct retrieval operations in Taal Lake, following reports that linked the lake to the long-standing case of the missing cockfighting aficionados.
Fisherfolk in the area remain hopeful that the government will act swiftly to help stabilize prices and protect their livelihoods.
