DAGUPAN 67^TH ANNIVERSARY

IN celebration of the 67th charter anniversary of Dagupan, known as the “Bangus Capital of the World”, an initial 13 mature breeders called sabalo were released into the sea just off the city’s coast last June 19, the eve of Agew na Dagupan.

Mayor Belen Fernandez, along with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, and Director Westly Rosario of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC), led the ceremonial release of the sabalos at a site 1. 5 kilometers away from the city’s shore.

There are 57 more sabalos being raised at the NIFTDC that will also be eventually released into their natural habitat where they are expected to spawn.

“Through this we expect an improvement in the fishermen’s catch of wild milkfish,” said Dr. Westly Rosario, NIFTDC chief.

At the same time, Rosario warned fishermen against catching the sabalos which is punishable under the law with seven to eight years imprisonment and a fine of P80,000.

Fernandez said the project is intended to sustain the production of fingerlings in the city as one sabalo can lay one million eggs every spawning season.

Aside from the sabalo dispersal, the city government is set to give P125,150 to the Samahan ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda for the procurement of their beach seine, locally known as kalukur.

The council resolution authorizing the use of the development fund of the city to provide for the 20 percent project equity for this livelihood program authored by Councilor Jigs Seen was approved by the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod last Monday.

Other strategies undertaken by the city to boost the city’s bangus industry, the mayor said,  include the establishment of the Seafood Processing Plant in Bonuan Binloc, the planned construction of a fish port near the Pantal River and the tail-tagging of the Dagupan bangus.

Fernandez said the ongoing dredging of rivers with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways  (DPWH) is also intended to boost the production of bangus, the number one agricultural product of Dagupan.

TOURISM

The ‘One Barangay, One Fish’ program is also set to be launched simultaneously with the re-launching of the city’s river cruise to be renamed as the ‘island tours’ with an added feature, the sampling or sale of fresh high-value fish from the villages.

Fernandez said four “tala-isdaan” project will be installed in each of the six island barangay to ensure a good production of high-value fish and oysters to be sold to tourists.

“While we are developing our tourism program, we will be helping our poor fisherfolks to earn more. In fact, we will be giving some 50 bancas to our fisherfolks to help them in their livelihood,” the mayor  said.

Meanwhile, the NIFTDC and its mother unit Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is also helping the city government in the production of  payaos, an eco-friendly fish aggregating device submerged in the sea to stimulate the natural breeding of fish which can then be caught through line fishing.

For his part, the archbiship said he is honored to take part in the sabalo project which will provide livelihood to fisherfolks.

“Given the opportunity to bring back the sabalos to the sea  knowing that they can help many small fishermen, you feel good about it,” Villegas said as he stressed the need to care for Mother Nature.—LVM and Hilda M. Austria

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