Dagupan City gov’t has big plans for Bonuan bangus

DAGUPAN CITY – The bangus (milkfish) industry here may soon become an export winner as the new city government is planning big for its marketing internationally.

Bangus, being our national fish, abounds in the country. But there’s something about the world-famous Bonuan bangus produced here that makes people crave for it, said Mayor Benjamin Lim.

Capitalizing on its popularity worldwide, Lim is planning to export this fish. "We are thinking big," he said.

Lim said there are about six million Filipinos abroad and if each one consumes one bangus per day, the potential market is indeed very big.

"Our Bonuan bangus is several notch above the ordinary bangus. We have to research on the production, processing, packaging and marketing of this product so we can export it to other countries," Lim said.

Lim wants this local product known internationally and patronized because of its distinct taste the way California oranges, Norwegian salmon, Washington apples carved good reputations.

Lim said he wants to invite investors who can introduce modern technology in the production of bangus.

He said that as of now, there are only tinapang (smoked) bangus, daing na (dried) bangus and boneless bangus. Bangus sardines sold in various groceries are not even made right from its source, Lim said.

"Maybe we can invite businessmen who could provide us machines for bangus deboning because right now this is done manually," he said.

Unique characteristics

While one can buy bangus in any market in the Philippines, Bonuan bangus stands out from the rest because it is so distinct both in its looks and taste.

From mouth to tail, from scale to more scales, from bust to butt, and all around its tummy, the real Bonuan bangus is supreme.

Bonuan bangus has a small mouth because it feeds on fine algue that grows in the bottom and starts to float a few days later.

The lower appendage of the fin is shorter than the top because the Bonuan bangus grazes the bottom when it feeds on fine algae, whereas those who feed on filamentous materials have to swim near the surface where the feeds float.

As was once written in the defunct local Traveller Magazine, "If Bonuan bangus were a lady, you’ll be entranced by the fineness and texture of her complexion."

This is because water in the Bonuan ponds changes faster than others because these are close to the Lingayen Gulf, their main source of water. This is also the reason why Bonuan bangus does not have that earthy taste (locally known as maablir), which many others have.

Look also at its tummy because it is rounded, almost ovate when appreciated from the mouth to the caudal fin. And you can feel the tummy, properly fat but firm and solidly textured.

Regulation of fishpens

Bangus production here increased by about 20 percent with the construction of fishpens. Despite the issuance of Executive Order 450 of then President Fidel Ramos sometime in 1996 for the dismantling of fishpens along the rivers in Pangasinan, particularly in bangus producing towns, fishpens continued to proliferate.

But the recent typhoon "Feria" destroyed about 30 percent of the more than 800 fishpens constructed along the rivers here. It was reported that about P22 million worth of bangus in fishponds and another P16 million of bangus in fishpens were destroyed by the recent typhoon in Dagupan City alone.

Thus, last July 10, Lim issued a memorandum addressed to the city agriculturist, Philippine Marine Police head, city police chief, and to the fisheries council head to prevent the reconstruction of the fishpens dismantled by the typhoon.

"I’m going to call a multi-sectoral planning session on how we can protect our rivers to avoid pollution because of these fishpens constructions.

Though the city council passed the long-overdue Fisheries Code of Dagupan City sometime in April, Lim said there is still a need to review it for possible amendments because there are still some areas among the prohibited portions of the river for fishpen construction that need inclusion.

He said the city government does not get any tax from fishpen operators. He said from 2,500 pieces of bangus harvested per hectare, fishpen operators yield as much as 10,000 pieces per hectare through the use of feeds.

There is a need to consult advance countries on how to clean the bottom soil of our rivers to avoid pollution because every after harvest, the feeds’ residues are left at the bottom of the river.

We’d like also to consult manufacturer of feeds if they can possibly manufacture feeds that don’t cause pollution to the rivers, Lim said.