‘Promote milkfish industry’

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines  â€“ Aurora Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara cited the need for research and development in boosting the bangus (milkfish) industry in this province.

Angara, among the 12 senatorial candidates under the Team PNoy administration ticket, said there is a “pressing need for a dedicated” R&D fund to boost the production, processing and marketing needs of Pangasinan milkfish.

“The milkfish of Pangasinan can be prodigiously produced and easily processed and has an unlimited market. We just have to make sure that steps are taken to protect and promote the milkfish industry of the province,” Angara said.

He said the R&D fund should focus on fish kill mitigation or prevention, the updating of processing methodologies and the global promotion of bangus as a healthy and tasty food.

Angara said there is already a captive international market for bangus, especially the countries hosting overseas Filipino workers. What is required is promoting milkfish exports in non-traditional foreign markets, he said.