Bangus Council formed

Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo inducted last Jan. 13 the members of the newly created Bangus Council of the Philippines (BCP) at the Dusit Hotel Nikko, Makati City. He was assisted by Agriculture Undersecretary Cesar M. Drilon, Jr. and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento.

In the same occasion, the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) held a pre-planning consultation with private aquaculture sector. BFAR discussed the status, issues and concerns in aquaculture particularly in the local bangus, tilapia, prawn and seaweed industries. BFAR also presented government intervention to address the various issues and concerns in aquaculture production such as diseases, pollution, malpractices, fry distribution, marketing and compliance to export requirements.

The recommendations from the private sector on how to address the issues and concerns will serve as inputs to a national master plan to be formulated by the council in a separate occasion. The master plan aims to strengthen the bangus industry and other aquaculture products in both the local and global markets.

The BCP will act as overall coordinating body and will oversee the development of the various sectors in the country’s bangus industry. As the integrative and consultative structure for inter-agency and inter-sectoral collaboration, the Council will coordinate with other service providers from both public and private entities to be affected by the national bangus master plan and to recommend government programs and projects that will benefit the industry.

The BCP is tasked to review and recommend policies affecting the industry including those that affect domestic and international trade particularly exports of products that will promote globalization and competitiveness of the local milkfish industry. The Council will also review and recommend policies affecting local production, demand and supply, marketing, processing and manufacturing to assure long-term sustainability.

Bangus is one of the most important aquaculture products in the country today. Last year alone, its production value reached close to P15 billion.

Drilon serves as chairman of BCCP with a representative from private business appointed as co-chairman members of the BCP from the private sector include representatives of bangus producers and processors. They are Francis Trenas (fishpond operators group), Jessie Perez (fish cage operators group), Marino de Leon (fish pen operators group), Aileen Jamandre (hatchery operators group), Jonathan Nacario (fry and fingerling suppliers group), Philip Ong (feed suppliers group), Francis Laurel (bangus processors group) and Alvin Gimelo) Bangus Association of the Philippines Inc.).

The government sector representatives to the Council are led by BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento. Other members include Director Romeo Recide of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Dir. Salvador Salacup of the Agricultural Marketing Assistance Services, Dir. Maridel Dizon of the National Agricultural and Fisheries Council, Rafael Olivera of the National Municipal Fisheries and Aquaculture Council, GM Petronilo Buendia of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, GM Nelson Buenaflor of Quedancor, Dr. Rolando Platon of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department and Dir. Raul Angeles of the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investment.