A series of surprise inspection at the Auxiliary Wet Market here by the joint effort of Task Force-Sagip-Dagat of the City Fisheries and Aquatic Reform Management Council (CFARMC), resulted to the confiscation of over 140 kilos of assorted round scad fish varieties, locally known as “galunggong” and “palapal.”
The Task Force led by Ma. Dolores Gurtiza, city fishery coordinator, Jerry Valdez, city fishery consultant and members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Maritime Command and Kasay Marine Sanctuary and the City Information Office, surprised fish vendors of the unscheduled market denial operation and apprehended owners Gabby Ducusin of Barangay Ilocanos Sur; Florence Daz, of Barangay Namtutan; and Gavina Costales of Barangay Lingsat.
Ducusin was caught for vending blasted fishes; Daz and Costales for selling artificially colored fishes. Gurtiza said, all of them will be subjected to penalties, ranging from P2, 000 to P5, 000.
According to Daz, her tubs of fishes were delivered to her from Lingayen, Pangasinan while Costales, a second-time violator, paid her delivered fishes from Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. “I was only asked to sell the fishes,” she claimed, but refused to reveal who the owner was.
“Ilang beses na kayong ni-lecture-ran, hindi pa rin kayo nadadala,” Gurtiza told the vendors.
Gurtiza added that to determine an artificially-colored fish, the water which is used to soak the fishes turns greenish. This indicated that a dye was used to make it appear that the fish is fresh.
Costales admitted that they change the water twice a day, to maintain the fish color. |
