E.B. Magalona crab feast sells 700 kilograms

By Glazyl M. Jopson

E.B. MAGALONA, Negros Occidental — The first “Eat-All-You-Can Blue Crab Night” drew nearly 1,000 residents and tourists Saturday, providing a boost to the town’s blue crab industry amid an export crisis.

Mayor Matt Malacon said in a media interview Sunday that the opening night generated an estimated PHP 240,000 in sales, excluding earnings from à la carte orders.

The municipal government initially prepared 400 kilograms of blue crabs but sourced an additional 400 kilograms after demand exceeded expectations.

Organizers sourced an additional 300 kilograms after demand exceeded expectations, bringing the total supply to 700 kilograms.

Despite the additional supply, the crabs sold out in about two hours.

“We did not expect such a huge turnout. Unfortunately, we had to stop accepting guests because there was simply no more crab supply available,” Malacon said.

Malacon apologized to visitors who traveled to the town but were unable to join the feast.

He assured them that organizers would improve preparations for the remaining Saturdays.

The municipal government will conduct a post-event assessment to address concerns raised during the opening night.

Possible changes include increasing the crab supply and reorganizing the venue to accommodate more guests.

Malacon said all proceeds from the event go directly to local crab vendors and fisherfolk.

The municipal government receives no share of the revenue, he added.

Malacon said the increased demand also raised crab prices, providing fisherfolk and vendors with additional income amid declining export sales.

The weekly unlimited crab feast is part of the revival of the town’s “Sabado Nights.”

The revived event focuses on promoting E.B. Magalona’s blue crab industry and creating a stable local market for its products.

The feast is held every Saturday in August from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Guests can eat unlimited blue crabs for PHP 300 per person.

The event also promotes E.B. Magalona as the “Blue Crab Capital of Negros Occidental.”

The initiative was launched after the farm-gate price of blue crabs fell to between PHP 120 and PHP 180 per kilogram from about PHP 320.

The price decline followed the suspension of Philippine blue swimming crab exports to the United States.

“We want to create a local market where we can buy directly from vendors and fisherfolk at better prices, helping improve household incomes,” Malacon said.

The municipality also hopes the weekly event will attract more visitors and stimulate local tourism.

The United States barred imports of crab and crab products from two Philippine fisheries effective June 11, 2026, after they failed to obtain favorable comparability findings under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

U.S. authorities cited inadequate documentation involving marine mammal protection and bycatch monitoring requirements.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said the government was working to regain access to the U.S. market.

Laurel expressed hope that exports could resume before the end of the year after U.S. authorities allowed the Philippines to reapply.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Negros Island Region (NIR) Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo, who also graced the crab feast, commended the town’s initiative and suggested to bring the activity to Bacolod City through their major activities to give the town an opportunity to promote their local product.

While there has been no specific timeline as to when the requirements will be complied and completed, Barrogo said that BFAR is trying its best to resolve the issue amid the challenges.

“BFAR is doing everything to work it out,” he added.