Ilocos back on top as main producer of ‘bangus’

DAGUPAN CITY—After losing its standing as the top producer of bangus (milkfish) in the last two years, Ilocos region is again No. 1.

The latest government reports showed the region’s bangus production leap to 90,466 metric tons in 2011 from 72,788 MT in 2010. Tailing the region is Western Visayas, which produced 81,950 MT of bangus.

Nestor Domenden, Ilocos director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said Ilocos was displaced as top producer by Western Visayas in 2009 when Typhoon “Emong” devastated the region’s aquaculture areas. Western Visayas produced 77,190 MT in 2009, while Ilocos production dropped to 68,891 MT.

Domenden said Pangasinan spent 2010 restoring its marine structures which explained why production was low that year. In 2010, Western Visayas harvested 74,788 MT of bangus against Ilocos’ 72,288 MT. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon