The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said Friday samples of galunggong or round scad collected from the Navotas fish port, Balintawak and Farmer’s Market in Cubao had tested negative for formalin. BFAR director Eduardo Gongona assured the public of his agency’s efforts to collaborate with other agencies to monitor if round scad tainted with formalin were being sold in the markets. He made the statement even as Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Thursday an initial 17,000 metric tons of round scad from Vietnam, Taiwan, and China were expected to be shipped to Metro Manila next month.

Araja, R. N., & Campos, O. V. (2018, August 25). No formalin in round scad, says BFAR. Manila Standard, p. A2.