MANILA, (PIA) -- Speaking to journalists who covered his three-day state visit in Indonesia on Tuesday, Sept. 6, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that he asked the neighboring country for help in strengthening Philippines' fisheries industry.

President Marcos said he found it "unacceptable" that the Philippines has to import the round scad or "galunggong" once known as the “poor man’s fish.”

Marcos said that the issue on the importation of galunggong — also known as the "poor man's fish" in the Philippines — was discussed during his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday.

"Nagpatulong ako sa [larangan ng] fisheries kasi obsessed ako dito sa Pilipinas, nag-i-import ng galunggong. ‘Di ko talaga matanggap iyan. So I asked for help kasi matibay ang fisheries nila (I requested helped in the fisheries sector because I was obsessed with the fact that the Philippines is importing galunggong. I really can't accept that. So I asked for help because their fisheries are thriving there.)," he said.

The Department of Agriculture this January approved the importation of some 60,000 metric tons of frozen galunggong for the local markets following the damage caused by Typhoon Odette in the fishing sector. Marcos is the concurrent Agriculture Secretary.

The chief executive added that he and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed to have an exchange of delegations to discuss the issue further. (PIA-NCR)