Capitol to track fish prices, supply

CEBU, Philippines — From fish landing sites to markets and retail outlets, the Cebu Provincial Government will track fish prices and supply across the province under a new monitoring program created by Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

Through Executive Order No. 50, Series of 2026, Baricuatro adopted the Bantay Presyo Isda Program and created the Cebu Task Force “Magwayen” to monitor fish prices, supply and market conditions.

The task force will regularly monitor fish prices at selected landing centers, fish ports, public markets, wholesale markets and retail outlets. It will also track fish volumes and availability in major trading centers.

"The Task Force shall monitor prevailing fish prices at selected landing centers, fish ports, public markets, wholesale markets, and retail outlets," reads a portion of the EO.

The program will cover major fish and fishery commodities traded in Cebu, including high-value or premium fish species, major commodity fish species and other priority fisheries commodities identified by the task force based on market importance.

The province said the program is intended to establish a coordinated and evidence-based mechanism for monitoring fish prices and supply, particularly amid factors that may cause market fluctuations.

The EO identifies supply and demand, seasonality, weather disturbances, transportation and logistics costs, fishing conditions, post-harvest losses and market concentration, among others, as factors that may influence fish prices.

"Establish a standardized Cebu Fish Price Monitoring System," the EO reads.

The task force is also directed to identify factors behind significant or unusual price movements and establish a price alert system.

It will validate reports of unusual or significant increases in fish prices and refer possible violations to the appropriate government agency.

The task force will also provide timely fish price and market information to the governor, local government units, fisherfolk, vendors, traders and the general public, and recommend market and supply interventions when necessary.

Weekly price bulletin

The Provincial Agriculture Office will serve as the secretariat of Task Force Magwayen and maintain a provincial database containing fish prices, supply conditions, market observations, complaints, investigations and actions taken.

Among its responsibilities is the preparation of the “Cebu TF Magwayen Weekly Fish Price Bulletin,” which will contain prevailing prices, price ranges, average prices, supply conditions, monitored commodities and markets, significant price movements, market outlook and advisory information.

The secretariat will coordinate the activities of task force teams, support offices, LGUs and concerned national government agencies and prepare regular and special reports.

The task force may organize technical, monitoring, market intelligence, inspection, disaster coordination, food safety, logistics, market linkage and enforcement teams to help implement the program.

These teams may include representatives from national government agencies, provincial offices, LGUs, market authorities, fisherfolk organizations, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.

When warranted by market conditions and subject to existing laws and available funds, the task force may recommend market linkages, direct selling, supply augmentation and alternative fish sources.

It may also recommend improvements in cold-chain and storage facilities, measures to reduce post-harvest losses, consumer information campaigns, intensified monitoring and coordination with national supply programs.

The EO also establishes a complaint mechanism through which consumers, fisherfolk, vendors, traders and other stakeholders may report unusual fish price increases, deceptive pricing, misrepresentation of fish species or size, suspected illegal fish trading activities, fish quality and safety concerns, and supply disruptions.

“All complaints shall be documented, validated, and referred to the agency with jurisdiction,” the executive order states.

Task force composition

Baricuatro will serve as chairperson of Task Force Magwayen, with Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan H. Saragena as vice-chairperson.

The task force will include the provincial legal officer, provincial planning and development coordinator, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Economic Enterprise Office, and chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture Board Member Cesar Baricuatro.

It will also include representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu, Cebu Port Authority and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter.

Also included are a representative from the Association of Municipal/City Agriculturists of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter and two representatives from duly recognized fisherfolk organizations.

Other agencies, offices, organizations or stakeholders may be designated by the chairperson.

The task force is expected to meet quarterly for regular assessment and planning, monthly during periods of significant fish price or supply concerns, and immediately or as necessary during emergencies or critical market situations.

The secretariat will submit a consolidated fish price and supply report to the Office of the Governor on a regular basis.

Focus on supply stability

The provincial government said the program will complement national and regional price-monitoring initiatives through coordination among national government agencies, the provincial government, component cities and municipalities, market authorities, law enforcement agencies, fisherfolk organizations and other stakeholders.

The EO also directs the task force to protect both consumers and fisherfolk by promoting fair and transparent fish trading practices and facilitating government intervention during supply disruptions, calamities, closed fishing seasons, prolonged bad weather, fish kills, disease outbreaks and other emergencies.

The Technical Working Group created under the order will develop monitoring protocols, standard data-collection forms, price-alert thresholds, reporting templates, market-monitoring schedules, data validation procedures and intervention protocols.

Task Force Magwayen will conduct quarterly assessments based on monitored markets and commodities, report timeliness, price and supply trends, validated complaints, referrals or actions taken, response time to disruptions, market linkages and measurable reductions in post-harvest losses. — (FREEMAN)