City wants BFAR to operate seafood processing plant
THE Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Alipio Fernandez to grant the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) administrative control and supervision over the Dagupan City Seafood Processing Complex.
Councilor Alfredo Quinto Sr., who proposed the resolution, said while the city government would like to manage the plant, it does not have the manpower and resources to do so.
He pointed out that BFAR would be in the best position to do so as it is the principal agency of the national government mandated by law to take the lead in fisheries development and all matters pertaining to the production and marketing of fish and fishery products.
Fish processing plants are required to comply with the hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCAP)-based assurance, the Standard Sanitary Operating Procedure Program and the Good Manufacturing Practices.
In order to effectively implement this system, BFAR conducted several trainings on HACCAP plan development for industry players.
At the same time, the SP noted that the BFAR made several undertakings to keep the fish processing industry compliant with the requirements of exporting countries, including the United States and the European community on the export of fishery and aquaculture products.
The resolution is also in line with the recommendation of a team from Korean experts supervising the construction of the seafood processing plant that National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) chief Westly Rosario be named interim manager of the facility.
NFITDC, located just beside the seafood processing plant, is under BFAR.
The complex, financed by the Korean government at P110 million, is set for a grand inauguration on July 21 with President-apparent Benigno Aquino III as guest along with his appointed agriculture secretary.–LM
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