Sardine factory to boost town’s economic activities

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The opening of the fish storage and processing plant of a sardine company in Bulan town is expected to boost the economic activities in the municipality and that of Sorsogon province as it plans to hire locals as workers.

Twenty have been initially hired and will start to work once the operation of Youngstown Sardines begins this month, Sorsogon Public Information Officer Salvador Mendoza said over the weekend.

Aside from hiring workers in the area, the company will directly buy fish from the fishermen which will greatly benefit the sector, Mendoza said.

SOON TO OPEN. An undated photo shows the Youngstown Sardines fish storage facility that will open in this month of July. The factory initially pre-hired 20 workers from Bulan town, Sorsogon province. (Photo courtesy of Sorsogon-PIO)

“With the direct buyer, the income of the fisherfolk will be greatly augmented since they will have a fair price. The factory will solve the problem of oversupply during the abundance of tamban or law-law fish,” Mendoza said.

Governor Jose Edwin Hamor said the upcoming operation of the sardine-maker will provide sustainable livelihood for the communities.

“Aside from the employment opportunities the company will provide to the resident, the income of the law-law fisherfolk is expected to increase. When there is an abundance of supply sometimes a banyera (fish tub) of law-law is only PHP100. Now at least they can have an income of PHP500 to PHP700 per tub,” he said.

Mendoza said law-law fisherfolk from other towns can also directly sell to the company. (PNA)