The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 on Thursday raised the need for collective efforts from various government agencies to address Bohol’s longstanding problem on exorbitant fish prices.

The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and DTI need to pool resources and open dialogues to come up with solutions, said DTI 7 chief Aster Caberte.

“I would say nga taas jud kaayo ang presyo diha sa ato,” said Caberte.

Based on monitoring of the BFAR 7, fish price range in the province per kilo was more expensive by around P50.

However, Caberte noted that price difference was beyond P50 compared to fish cost in neighboring areas such as Cebu and Dumaguete City.

“Kung naa ko sa Dumaguete mopalit jud ko daan ug isda didto bag-o ko mo-uli ug Bohol aron dili nako mopalit ug isda diha sa Dao. Super barato ang isda sa Dumaguete,” said Caberte.

The DTI official ascribed the exorbitant prices to inadequate fish supply in the province.

She also pinpointed growing “disposable income” of Boholanos from overseas Filipino workers which makes it possible for expensive fish in the province’s wet markets to still be bought.

According to Caberte, fishes gathered in Bohol are mostly supplied in Cebu due to numerous buyers who purchase in bulk making it easier for fishermen to sell all their products.

For its part, the BFAR said that it has no control over market prices although they have launched efforts to mediate in a bid to slash fish costs.