VIGAN CITY, Nov. 30 (PIA) - - The Ipon Bagoong Association, Inc. in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, had received a financial support amounting to P126,650.00 from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 1-Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Ilocos Sur, through its Grants-in-Aid Program (GIP) for the improvement of its product and production facility.

Caoayan Ipon Bagoong Association, Inc. (CIBAI) is an association duly registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) engaged in the processing of goby fries locally called ipon to make bagoong.

With reports from the DOST-PSTC, CIBAI received various equipment such as fermentation drums, stainless steel preparation table, and chest freezer, and the provision of packaging and labeling assistance through GIA’s strategies to empower the community with technology innovations.

Hence, the association is expected to increase its volume of production and productivity and be compliant with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The GIA or community-based program provides grants to all associations and cooperatives in the province provided that they are registered organizations.

Moreover, the municipality of Caoayan is a coastal community which plans to consider ipon catching as one of its tourist attractions.

Ipon is an Ilocano exotic food available only in season.

It is a lunar fish as they only appear 7-8 days after the full moon during the months of August to October and 10 days after the full moon during the months of November to February.

With this, the ipon is valuable and has high demand among the people.

To date, the association is producing approximately one thousand bottles of ipon bagoong at 200 grams and 400 grams per bottle.

For more information, email ilocossur@region1.dost.gov.ph or visit the DOST-PSTC’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/D0STIlocosSur. (JCR/VHS/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur with reports from the DOST PSTC-Ilocos Sur)