Piñol distributes fish drying equipment in Catbalogan

TACLOBAN CITY – Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, together with Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo Gongona, led the turnover of P1.2 million worth of post-harvest equipment in Catbalogan City recently.

BFAR Eastern Visayas Director Juan Albaladejo said five upright freezers, one collapsible solar dryer and one blast freezer were handed out to the Asosasyon han mga Paragbulad ha Catbalogan (APCat) during their visit to the newly constructed common service facility (CSF).

The project was conceptualized to make Catbalogan the model city for fish drying, compliant with the international standards in food safety during the first visit of Piñol in 2016.

It also aims to augment their production of one-day-old dried, fish locally called as labtingaw or lamayo, which is highly sought after by Filipino communities abroad.

The P3.5-million facility in Payao Village will produce various fishery products the city.

"The CSF was established to improve the fish drying process. The facility will have its clean rooms for processing, clean supply of fresh and marine water and drying facilities that are also clean and free from possible contamination from flies, dust and fomites," Albaladejo said.

He added Piñol also encouraged the APCat members to venture in bangus fish cage farming to boost their income.

Through loans from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), the members could acquire fish cages, feeds and fingerlings as start-up necessities for their new venture.