Bicol Saro party-list Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan has underscored the need to equip municipal ports with cold storage areas and other modern post-harvest facilities to sustain the production of “tamban” (native sardines) and other fishery products for the global market and raise incomes for small-scale fisherfolk.
Yamsuan, who chairs the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, said the government should prepare for the export opportunities that would be available for “tamban” after an international food standards body recognized this Philippine fish as part of its “Codex” for canned sardines and sardine-type products.
Post-harvest facilities, which are sorely lacking in the fisheries sector, are necessary to prepare for these export opportunities, along with helping small-scale fisherfolk raise their incomes, and create more jobs along the sardine industry’s supply chain, Yamsuan said.
“We acknowledge and thank the efforts of the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), in lobbying for the inclusion of ‘tamban’ in the Codex. This is certainly welcome news for our artisanal fisherfolk,” Yamsuan said.
Yamsuan said he expects new investments to include modern facilities for drying, canning and bottling “tamban” as a sardine product, on top of providing fisherfolk with cold storage facilities and ice plants, especially in the country’s sardine fishing communities.
“The next step is to ensure that ‘tamban’ and other locally grown and caught fish remain competitive products in the export market by providing our fisherfolk with adequate facilities and equipment to preserve the quality of their catch, which, in turn, would allow them to sell these at higher prices,” Yamsuan added.
He also highlighted the importance of ensuring the sustainability of “tamban” and other fishery products, which are affordable sources of protein for Filipinos.
Yamsuan issued the statement when asked by the media for his reaction to reports that the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) recently decided to officially include “tamban” in the Codex Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products.
According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., this development would open export opportunities for “tamban” in the European market, stimulate new investments and create new jobs in the fisheries sector.
Yamsuan said he expects these new investments to include modern facilities for drying, canning and bottling “tamban” as a sardine product, on top of providing fisherfolk with cold storage facilities and ice plants, especially in the country’s sardine fishing communities.
“Adding value to their catch by providing them adequate post-harvest facilities is a key factor in helping our small fisherfolk rise above poverty, along with providing support in accessing markets and training them on ensuring the sustainability of our marine resources,” he said.
“Tamban” and other sardine products are usually found in the municipal waters of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Bicol and Northern Mindanao. Other sardine-producing regions are Western Visayas, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).
