UP Visayas boosts Bataan mussel skills and enterprise

By Ferelyn F. Oliva

ILOILO CITY — Thirty mussel farmers, fisheries extension officers, community members, and local processors from selected Bataan municipalities completed a four-day University of the Philippines Visayas training on postharvest handling, fermentation technology, and entrepreneurship for Philippine green mussels.

The training was held July 21–24, 2026.

The program is part of UP Visayas’ commitment under a recently signed memorandum of agreement with the Abucay municipal government to strengthen the town’s mussel industry through technology transfer, capacity-building, and the adoption of research-based technologies.

Green mussels, locally known as tahong, are an important source of food and livelihood in many Philippine coastal communities.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development’s mussel program supports the development of safe, high-quality cultured and processed mussel products, reliable seed supplies, and expanded production areas.

On the opening day, Ferelyn Oliva of the UP Visayas Technology Transfer and Business Development Office discussed the state of the Philippine mussel industry.

Oliva also presented research-based technologies developed under the DOST-PCAARRD Mussel Program to improve mussel production, postharvest handling, and value addition.

Ernestina M. Peralta, a retired university researcher from the UP Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and developer of the low-salt fermented mussel sauce technology, discussed value-adding opportunities for green mussels.

Peralta introduced the fundamentals of salt-fermented mussel sauce production and prepared participants for the hands-on activities.

On the second day, Peralta discussed safe postharvest handling practices for fish and other aquatic resources, including proper handling protocols, depuration, and relaying methods to improve product safety and quality.

Participants evaluated various postharvest handling scenarios through group exercises.

The day concluded with a session on good manufacturing practices and standard protocols for fermented mussel sauce production.

The third day focused on the hands-on production of salt-fermented mussel sauce.

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences researchers Ariel Sefil and Ruby Napata facilitated the practical training.

They guided participants through raw material preparation, mussel meat and intravalvular fluid extraction, yield determination, homogenization, and salting procedures.

The activities gave participants firsthand experience in value-added mussel processing.

The final day focused on enterprise development.

Frediezel De Leon, an assistant professor, discussed entrepreneurial thinking, opportunity identification, and business fundamentals.

Participants then developed business model canvases for their proposed enterprises.

The UP Visayas technology transfer team — Oliva, Queennie Hope Legaste, and Jenylle Kate Calizo — guided the participants during the activity.

The training formally opened with messages from Abucay Mayor Erik Martel, UP Visayas Technology Transfer and Business Development Office Director Reynold Tan, and Kristine Joy Tandang, Industry Strategic Program manager for the DOST-PCAARRD Mussel Program under the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division.

The speakers emphasized the importance of innovation and collaboration in strengthening the local mussel industry.

Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division officer in charge Virna Salac delivered the closing remarks.

Salac encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their communities.

The initiative reflects UP Visayas’ continuing commitment to translating research into tangible community benefits.

It also seeks to bring research-based technologies to coastal communities, promote sustainable fisheries development, create livelihood opportunities, and strengthen the Philippine green mussel industry through technology transfer and collaborative partnerships. (UPV-IPO)