THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has assumed full control and responsibility over the newly completed Korea-Philippines Dagupan Seafood Processing Plant in Dagupan City.

Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) under BFAR, said the bureau has already conveyed its acceptance of the management and operation task to Mayor Benjamin Lim.

The turnover of the plant to BFAR from the city government is contained in a resolution issued by the Dagupan City Council on May 25, 2010, under then Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

The Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has given his nod to the arrangement in July.

TRIAL RUN

Rosario, named head of the technical working group created by BFAR to initially oversee the project and prepare its operational manual, said a one-month trial run is scheduled on September and gave assurance to the community of Sitio Korea in Bonuan Binloc that the government’s promise to give them priority for employment will be honored by BFAR.

The former residents of sitio Korea were relocated by the city government with a commitment to provide them employment opportunities at the plant.

The residents already trooped to the Sangguniang Panlungsod last Monday to decry what they described as the “unfulfilled promise” of the past administration after waiting for months to be employed at the plant.

Rosario said those have been trained, as “deboners” will soon be called to report for their assignments for next month’s trial run.

Meanwhile, the technical working group is currently studying the mode of payment for the plant’s workers, i.e., per piece, per kilo, or per day basis.

Some members of the group are now visiting similar fish processing plants in Davao, Cagayan de Oro City and Bulacan to look at standard practices.

FUNDING CHALLENGE

Meanwhile, Rosario admitted that taking over the facility at this time of the year poses financial difficulties.

With the processing plant now under its wings, BFAR will have to bankroll all operational expenses, including the cost of electricity that was consumed when the project was still being built.

He said since it is only the third quarter of the year and available funding is already tight but he is optimistic that funding problems would ease up next year since the plant’s operations budget will already be part of BFAR’s annual budget.

Rosario said all the unfinished projects of the city government including the water treatment plant, will also have to be completed by BFAR.

The operation of a water treatment plant is one of the requirements for the plant’s accreditation by the United States to allow its products into the U.S. market.

The plant’s prospective clientele includes fish processors that are already exporting products to the U.S.

The BFAR turn over the plant back to the city government after five years and the city government is expected to have trained its own personnel by then to take over the facility.

INAUGURATION

The date for the grand inauguration of the plant has yet to be finalized, pending confirmation on the availability of President Benigno Aquino III.

The South Korean government that funded the project particularly requested for Aquino’s presence in the event as the plant will be its “first gift” to him.

The seafood processing plant, touted as the most modern of its kind not only in the country but in Southeast Asia, was funded by a US$2 million (approximately P100 million) grant from the Korean government through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).–LM

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