Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte through the Provincial Planning Development Office in partnership with ZABIDA (Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance Inc.) in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry IX and ZDN Provincial Office holds Bottled Sardines Processing Multi-Stakeholders Meeting on Aug 15, 2024 at Plenary Hall 2, Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Exhibition Center, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
The dialogue is attended by select fisher folks, processors, bottling Companies and suppliers of ingredients in the bottled sardines industry in the province. The province aside being the top producer of bottles Spanish style sardines, is also the provinces’ 2nd priority commodity next to coconut. Thus the forum is conducted to further the development of bottled Spanish-style sardines produced by MSMEs in the province.
DTI –ZDN Provincial Director, Ms. Estrella M Roda delivers a welcome address for the participants and stakeholder partners of the project providing words of inspiration and support to the program. DTI-IX Assistant Regional Director, Ms. Maridel D. Dengal also attended and supported the program and provided inspirational talk and guidance to the stakeholders especially the MSMEs who ventured on in-glass sardines processing in the province.
Ms. Esperancita “Espie” E. Hupida, Executive Director, ZABIDA, provides the rationale of the program leads the discussion with Ms. Queenie Casimiro, both from ZABIDA, a consortium of four (4) NGOs; Katilingban sa Kalambuan, Inc. (KKI), Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), Reach Out to Others Foundation (ROOF), an NGO based in Zamboanga City, funded and supported by German Cooperation (GIZ), who spearheads the program through the partnership with the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte and the Department of Trade and Industry.
This activity form part of ZABIDA’s “Mobilizing Investments Toward Poverty Eradication, Peace-building and Sustainability,” under the mother project Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas in Mindanao (SPADE MinPAD RISE)
The activity of the meeting includes Planning for the Bottled Sardines Investment Forum, Presentation of Bottled Sardines Industry with Value Chain Analysis: Industry Profile, Constraints, Challenges, Opportunities and Identifying the goals and objectives of ISDA (Inglass Sardines of Dipolog Association) and what strategies should be adopted to reach these goals and beyond.
After the forum, the results that came out were (1) market matching of agri-inputs (carrots /sili/ paminta) vendors direct to sardines processors; (2) commitment from FDA to conduct free training on Complying with FDA, License to Operate (LTO), Cert. Of Product Registration (CPR) compliance and outright consultation with FDA experts on pending application with FDA by local sardines’ processors; (3) BFAR commitment on strengthening its enforcement efforts against illegal fishing; (4) DTI for marketing and product development support for fish and fish product industry; and (5) PLGU commits for investment and product promotion.
The province of Zamboanga del Norte known for its potential in the in-glass sardines’ industry and through the support of Governor Rosalina “Nanay Nene” Jalosjos and Provincial Administrator Wilberth “Gaw Jojo” Magallanes strongly supports the fishfolks of the province most specially the MSMEs in the advancement of in-glass sardines industry. Thus, making the province a top exporter of the in-glass sardines in the country.
(Source: Provincial Information Center – ZaNorte)