Dagupan levels up in bangus deboning system

By January 28, 2017Business, News, Punch Gallery

REGULAR consumers of deboned Dagupan bangus are now assured of hygienically and systematically deboned fish for safe consumption.

Reason: A section of Malimgas Public Market was renovated and its facilities were upgraded to conform with the standards set by Republic Act 10611, otherwise known as the Food Safety Act.

The city’s newly renovated deboning area at the Malimgas Public Market. (CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)

The City Agriculture Office now supervises operations at the new deboning area equipped with smoking apparatus and blast-sealing machine for making tinapang bangus and to help maintain the freshness of the bangus while in transit.

The CAO said the system upgrading and renovation were made possible with the help of stakeholders in the bangus trade.

According to Emma Molina, CAO head, all deboned bangus, whether from Dagupan fishponds or nearby towns, sold in Dagupan will now have to be processed in the new facility.

“Those who do the deboning in their homes have to pass the required product standards,” she said.

The deboners are trained to meet the established standards in order to be certified by the city government.

Fish producers and traders are charged 50 centavos per piece of bangus as processing fee.

The new facility also offers use of a smoke machine for tinapang bangus, and blast sealing or marinating.

Molina said this has been a dream of Mayor Belen Fernandez to make bangus sold at its best so that it can command better price.

The new equipment in the facility were obtained through the partnership between the city and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The new deboning area is on a dry run mode starting Jan. 24.

There are presently 60 certified deboners with blue card working in the facility.

“Now we can monitor closely and once we perfect the process, these would have label that the fish you are buying or eating has been processed under strict quality control standards,” Molina said.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez said the bangus industry in Dagupan has leveled up with the new facility. “This is a guarantee that a labeled Dagupan bangus is genuine and clean,” she said.

Bangus traded daily in the market here ranges from five tons, two tons of which come from Dagupan. Of this number, about 20 percent is deboned, Molina said.

“Next target is interactive tourism for bangus deboning,” she said. (Tita Roces)

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