Iloilo Pushes Bangus Industry Revival with New Facility

The Institute of Contemporary Economics (ICE), in collaboration with the Iloilo State University of Fisheries, Science and Technology (ISUFST) and the Philippine Association of Fish Producers Inc. (PAFPI), is contributing to the multisectoral efforts to revive Iloilo’s bangus industry.

ISUFST Director for Resource Generation Dr. Roy Villanueva introduced local bangus producers, led by PAFPI Chairman David Villaluz, to the soon-to-be-completed Bangus Processing Facility at the ISUFST Main Campus in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. The facility, expected to be operational by the end of March 2025, aims to transform freshly harvested bangus into high-value products.

During the presentation, Dr. Villanueva provided an overview of the facility’s expected operations and welcomed inputs from the bangus producers. Producers committed to supplying freshly harvested bangus for processing and shared their recommendations to enhance the facility’s efficiency.

Dr. Villanueva expressed gratitude for the producers’ contributions and promised to incorporate their suggestions into the final operational plans.

The ISUFST team included Dr. Jescel Bito-onon, director for research and development, and Dr. Herman Lagon, director for public affairs, marketing, and media communications. They also discussed the deployment of ISUFST graduates as technicians to introduce modern technology to bangus operations.

The ICE team, represented by Executive Director Bonnie Ladrido and Che Guevara, committed to securing market access for the facility’s products and assisting PAFPI in obtaining additional resources to strengthen the bangus industry.

This initiative underscores a collaborative effort to revitalize Iloilo’s bangus sector, with plans to integrate modern processing technologies and expand market reach. The effort also includes the lloilo Business Club, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, among others.