On top of the excess catch, absence of a cold storage and trucking facilities and opportunistic intermediaries only added to the fishermen’s woes in the locality.
By opening the doors of the Youngstown Sardines fish storage plant to the lawlaw fisherfolks not just of Bulan but also those of Magallanes town, the plant will not only eliminate the need for intermediaries but will also ensure fair prices for their catch.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered early this year the setting up of several cold storage facilities across the country to address the declining fishery production and reduce post-harvest losses. With the cold storage facilities, fish can be preserved, and there’s no need to throw them away due to spoilage.
According to Sorsogon Provincial Information Officer Salvador Mendoza Jr., the provincial government recognized the positive impact the investment of Youngstown Sardines would have on the province’s employment rate and the livelihood of fisherfolks.
Mendoza also said the 2,808-square meter plant area can accommodate around 50 tons of lawlaw per day. This is expected to increase the income of the lawlaw fisherfolk to more than P700 per fish tub.