Fernandez seeks to uplift Dagupan's bangus industry

DAGUPAN CITY – The City Agriculture Office was directed by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of an exclusive trading place where local bangus growers can exclusively market or trade their Dagupan bangus to get a better price for their commodity.

UPGRADING DAGUPAN’S AQUACULTURE. Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation vice-president Jumnun Sudtrong (6^th from left) visits Dagupan City on instruction of Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines Thanatip Upatising to do some scientific study on the city’s aquaculture industry. He is joined by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez (5^th from left) along with City Agriculture Officer Emma J. Molina (5ht from right), City Councilor Marcelino Fernandez (4^th from right) and Punong Barangays Arsenio D. Santillan Sr. (right) of Lomboy, Delfin F. De Guzman (2^ndfrom right) of Salapingao, Nestor Victorio (3^rd from right) of Pugaro, Luzviminda Velasquez (3^rd from left) of Carael, and Evangelista Dela Cruz (4^th from left) of Calmay, Bernard Cabison (left) of CDRRMO and City Engineer Virginia Rosario (2^nd from left). (CIO photo by Jojo Tamayo)

“Iba ang Dagupan bangus kaya dapat magkaroon ito ng presyo, which is different sa ibang bangus grown outside of the city,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez is also considering the putting up of a harvest to pay scheme for small fisher folks in the city with a marketing plan that will be designed by the city, to help them sell their products at better prices.

Fernandez met with Jumnun Sudtrong, vice president of Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation, a Thailand company based in the country engaged in fish feed sales, when the latter visited the city on October 9.

Sudtrong’s visit to the city was the result of Mayor Fernandez'es  talk  with Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines Thanatip Upatising who visited  the city last September 8 where the latter promised to send one of their experts to help the city  upgrade its aquaculture industry.

Fernandez and Sudtrong went to the rivers along with City Agriculture Officer Emma J. Molina, City Councilor Marcelino Fernandez and Punong Barangays Arsenio D. Santillan Sr. of Lomboy, Delfin F. De Guzman of Salapingao, Nestor Victorio of Pugaro, Luzviminda Velasquez of Carael, and Evangelista Dela Cruz of Calmay and conducted a feasibility study on how to maximize the use of the rivers and help small fisher folks.

“I’ve been very passionate in helping our fishermen after four years of cleaning our rivers under the “Sa Ilog Ko, May Pagbabago” program,” said Fernandez.

Molina also disclosed that part of the feasibility study that her office will soon undertake is for the city to have its own nursery for bangus fingerlings, whose outputs will be given to small fisher folks under the harvest to pay scheme.

To ensure the growth of fingerlings, the city will also coordinate with a feed producer which will supply the small fisher folks with feeds at lower prices, lower than the dealer’s price. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Oct. 10, 2017)