Sardines in pouch, anyone?

And now, sardines in pouches.

Said to be the first of its kind in the world, this innovatively packaged sardine product has been the result of the creative and resourceful mind of the Filipino.

The sardine in pouch is now in the market, courtesy of the Mega Fishing Corp., which was provided technological assitance in the venture by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its packaging research center.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also lent a helping hand in the aspect of marketing the product.

Mega Fishing Corp. came out iwth the innovative product to become competitive in a venture where big names in the sardine industry are key players, said Willim Tiu Lim, the company’s CEO and president.

Lim’s forum was the S&T conference held last March 16 in observance of the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development’s (PCIERD) 23rd anniversary.

The business executive was among those invited to share their experiences on packaging innovation with the assistance of DOST headed by Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro and PCIERD under Executive Director Graciano Yumul Jr. DOST undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña also discussed the strides achieved by DOST-assisted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

During the forum, Lim commended the DOST family for its technological support to MSMEs.

On his new product, he said that the sardine in pouch is competitive because of its attributes – convenient, low cost, easy-to-serve, and easy-to-prepare.

Interviewed after his presentation by this writer, Lim said the product is now being introduced to the military, which can find it handy for soldiers assigned in combat zones.

Unlike the sardines in tin cans, wherein one still needs a can opener, the sardine in pouch is more convenient as a ration.

Introduced in the market last September, the product (P8.50 per pouch) is now in big department stores in Metro Manila and Zamboanga, where Mega Corp. is based. Zamboanga, by the way, is now regarded as the "sardine capital of the Philippines."

Mega Corp. fishes the species tamban for its sardine in pouch in the Sulu Sea area.

A pouch contains four pieces of tomato sauce-based tamban. Aside from its qualifying as a "combat food", it can be handy in relief operations in times of natural calamities. – RAF