BFAR wants tag for Dagupan ‘bangus’ to protect growers, consumers

POND FRESH Bonuan “bangus,” one of the best tasting varieties of milkfish in the country, is grown in the fish ponds of Dagupan City in Pangasinan province. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

DAGUPAN CITY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has asked the city government to label the Dagupan “bangus” (milkfish) for consumers to easily distinguish the homegrown variety from those coming from other provinces.

Nestor Domenden, the BFAR Ilocos region director, on Tuesday said putting tags on the fish would protect both fish producers and consumers.

Bangus grown here are said to be the tastiest and juiciest.

Domenden said most bangus being sold in Metro Manila and other provinces come from Dagupan City or other Pangasinan towns like Bolinao, Anda and Sual.

Putting tags on bangus was done during an experiment in La Union province where producers had labeled bangus raised in Dulao Lagoon in Aringay town.

Knowing source

“Dulao bangus is said to be of good quality and could match Dagupan bangus in terms of palatability,” Domenden said during a public consultation on a proposed city council resolution banning bangus from other places.

He said tags had helped vendors sell their bangus harvest faster since buyers would immediately know the source.

But a squabble among bangus producers stopped them from tagging their bangus harvest as some of them refused to label their produce due to additional costs.

Domenden said tagging costs less than 10 centavos for each fish. “Even if a kilogram of tagged fish would incur additional P5, consumers would readily buy them because they are assured of the quality,” he said.

‘Alien bangus’

Last month, Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo filed a resolution seeking to accredit local fish dealers after receiving complaints that “alien bangus,” or those produced outside the city, had flooded the public market.

Reports said traders from other areas have been selling “double dead” and “counterfeit milkfish” that, Tamayo said, may pose health risks to consumers and hurt the city’s milkfish industry.

Tamayo also wanted to impose tax on bangus coming from outside this city while exempting the homegrown variety. He said the city council had yet to determine the amount of tax to be imposed.

This city operates a “consignacion” (wholesale) market where bangus producers and dealers sell the fish from the city and other Pangasinan towns.