Sorsogon sardine factory to start operation in Dec.

SORSOGON CITY --- Due to the abundance of Sardines (sardinelia linemuru) locally known as “Tamban” or “Law-law” and strategic access to rich fishing grounds, Bulan town in Sorsogon would be opening its first big-scale sardine canning factory in Bicol region.

Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that the sardine factory is anticipated to contribute to the economic activities of he province, particularly to those who would be hired as factory workers and to the fisher folk in the province and in other places in Bicol.

Escudero said the factory has already pre-hired at least 600 workers coming from different towns of Sorsogon in preparation for its full-blast operations this coming December.

To open its sardine factory is the Guinbe Food Corporation, a known manufacturer of quality sardines in the country.

As a first term governor, Escudero has already started massive infrastructure projects in Sorsogon, including road widening and the rehabilitation of fish ports in Matnog and in Bulan towns.

The factory would also solve the problem of oversupply of sardine fish during its abundance in the fishing grounds of Bicol and the nearby places in the Visayas.

“The price per kilo of sardine fish or “law-law” is dropping drastically during their abundance. This canning factory will solve this problem,” Ronel Dioneda, a marine biologist of Bicol University (BU) who is also a native of Sorsogon, said.

Dioneda said “law-law” belongs to at least 10 sardine species that could adapt to the pressure of overfishing and changing climatic condition.

Dioneda, who is also the BU Research Center head, said that “law-law” has the ability for quick replenishment and regeneration that negates the pressure of overfishing.

“Sardine fish replenishes very fast and breeds eggs far big in number that other species, and can literally cope with the fishing pressure,” Dioneda said.

Also, according to Dioneda, sardine fish could adapt to the changing temperature by quickly migrating from warm sea water to a colder area for breeding.

He said that Bulan town is an ideal site for a sardine canning factory as its location is strategically accessible to fishermen coming from the Ragay Gulf, Ticao-Burias Pass, Samar Sea, and other fishing grounds of Bicol and the Visayas.

He said that sardine fish is very abundant between November and April every year.

Based on its 2017 data, the Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has approved at least four fishery establishments in Bicol, namely, Bicol Blue Star Export Corporation in Brgy. Mahingan, Sorsogon City, that is engaged in pasteurized chilled crabmeat in can; Dai-Hai Marine Products Corporation in Cagba, Tugbo, Masbate City, through frozen squid and scallop meat, and comb pen meat; We Golden High International Incorporated in Mahayahay, Cawayan and Masbate City that engages in frozen squid frozen scallop meat; and, the Kim Marine Products in Zone 6, Dugcal, Camaligan Camarines Sur that specializes in frozen boiled octopus.