SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- Seaweed farmers in the town of Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro were introduced to the process of making smoked fish (tinapa) in a skills training session organized by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).

Under the MAO’s livelihood program, members of the Tabuk Tadlok Fisherfolk Association were taught the basics of smoked bangus processing, kikiam, and fishball making.

According to MAO agricultural technologist John Randolph Gaudiel, the training was requested by the association to acquire a sustainable, all-year-round source of income, as their main livelihood from cultivating seaweeds only peaks from November to May.

“Ang [main] livelihood nila [sa samahan] ay seaweeds [farming] which is seasonal lang, ‘yong fish processing [ay pwedeng gawin] whole year 

(their main livelihood is seaweed farming which is seasonal, compared to fish processing that can be done throughout the year),” Gaudiel explained.

In addition, a member of the association had prior experience in fish processing by previously working in the municipality of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro. 

According to Gaudiel, the group requested fish processing training to cultivate and share the skill with the group. Gaudiel shared that the association has access to bangus producers and tamban (sardinella) suppliers, making fish processing an ideal supplementary livelihood.

The MAO awarded one unit of smokehouse, meat grinder, and food processing equipment such as knives, chopping boards, forceps, and basins to the association to help kickstart their production.

The MAO is planning to bridge the association with the Department of Trade and Industry for additional training when the group’s production of smoked bangus starts. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)