BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 8- -The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Cordillera Region(BFAR-CAR) through its Fisheries Postharvest and Marketing Division is promoting the use of clean and suitable equipment for fish vending, ensure sanitary conditions of vending sites, and make quality fish products available in the locality.
To keep fish from risk of contamination, BFAR recently gave four individual fish vendors at the Baguio City Public Market stainless fish stalls each. These will replace the traditional large woven bamboo tray (bilao) or the piece of plywood put on top of plastic crates where fish and fishery related products are put for display.
“I am thankful that BFAR was able to provide this equipment. We cannot afford to buy this one but now we will have improved fish stalls to use every day”, said Genefe Ramos, a recipient.
Another recipient, Mercy Dacumos, is grateful for the stainless fish stall that would replace ‘that piece of flat square wood’ which she had been using to display her products since she started selling fish and fishery products in the 1980s.
To institute postharvest management systems and marketing strategies that would maximize the use of the fish stall, the BFAR is set to award more than 100 fish stalls this year. Identified recipients are registered fisherfolk in the BFAR’s Municipal Fisherfolk Registration System. They were expected to properly utilize said equipment in their operations and shall ensure the fish stall is always in proper working condition and observe the necessary diligence in its safe-keeping./ Rodelyn Q. Foronda-BFAR
