Factors that Contribute to the Increasing Price of Fish in Barangay Poblacion Dimasalang

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The increasing prices of fish is a significant economic problem in Barangay Poblacion Dimasalang. Due to the negative economic impact, the residents experienced financial difficulties. We determined different factors and effects of the increasing price of fish. We want to call the attention of the local government unit officials of the Municipality of Dimasalang to develop interventions for solving the said issue. Through this, the residents will be relieved of the problem of buying fish at higher prices.

METHODS

Using a phenomenological research approach and convenience sampling, we conducted a face-to-face interview with the selected ten residents of Barangay Poblacion, including some fisherfolks and fish vendors who responded to a set of semi-structured questions. The answers were recorded to the prepared answer sheets —the data collected through qualitative analysis at the households of the residents and the public market.

RESULTS

The residents who participated in the face-to-face interview stated that ventures of retail, inflation rate, the high price of fuel and environmental change are the major factors that contribute to the increasing price of fish affecting the family budget of the households. It contributes to a higher cost of their daily living, in which they expressed their sentiments. They suggested that local and barangay officials should lower the tax of the fish vendors, implement price control, and assign officials that will strictly monitor the pricing in the public market and check the weighing scale used by the fish vendors.

DISCUSSIONS

The results reveal that the problem in Barangay Poblacion Dimasalang causes a decrease in the amount of fish consumption. The price problem also causes insufficiency in the family budget of some of the average and low-income households. Moreover, the significant factors that contribute to the increasing price of fish are ventures of retails, inflation rate, the high price of fuel, and environmental change. The other factors such as the background of the fishing industry, how the rate of the price of fish increases and the quality of the fish product were not included and given emphasis in the study that might contribute to the increasing price of fish in Barangay Poblacion Dimasalang. The results show the need for the action of the Local Government Unit to regulate the prices of the fish product in the public market in order to avoid multiple price mark-up that causes the sky-towering price of fish.