The domestic price of blue swimming crabs has gone up, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development is providing aid to industry stakeholders affected by the United States export ban on the product, E.B. Magalona Vice Mayor Marvin Malacon said Sunday, August 9.
Malacon said the eat-all-you-can blue crabs event at the E.B. Magalona covered court during the first two Saturday nights in August has driven up demand, resulting in much-needed price increases.
“The results have been very positive,” he said.
The blue crabs price, which dropped to ₱150–₱180 a kilo following the US export ban, has increased to ₱200 and above per kilo, Malacon said.
The DSWD also announced that it will provide ₱500,000 to assist affected fisherfolk and other blue crab industry stakeholders, he added.
The Philippines’ export of blue crabs to the US was banned starting June 11 due to an alleged failure to comply with American marine mammal protection laws. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Philippine government is filing an appeal to the US ruling, and he remains optimistic that the import ban will be lifted by the end of the year.
The ban caused an oversupply of blue crabs and a drop in prices, prompting E.B. Magalona to organize the Saturday night events, where customers pay ₱300 to eat unlimited crabs.
Malacon said that on Saturday, August 8, visitors in E.B. Magalona consumed 750 kilos of crabs worth about ₱225,000.
“There probably would have been more people if it had not rained,” he said.
That volume covers about two to three days of catch for local fisherfolk, he added.
On Saturday, August 1, consumers also ate 800 kilos of crabs.
Due to the domino effect, droves of people visited the Tomongtong Eco-Trail in E.B. Magalona the following day, August 2, generating total sales of ₱70,000, Malacon said.
He said that some E.B. Magalona residents have also resorted to online crab sales to further boost income.
Mayor Matthew Malacon is planning to provide a designated area near the E.B. Magalona plaza where one can buy or eat crabs daily, the vice mayor added.
The local government is also eyeing the establishment of a small restaurant that will serve various crab dishes, including crab lumpia and relleno, he said.*
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