The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) seeks to enliven Pangasinan’s bangus industry with the Regional Project Advisory Board’s (RPAB) endorsement of Php 13.9 million enterprises during its 16^th meeting held at 3^rd Floor Conference Room, Department of Agriculture Building, San Fernando City, La Union on April 4, 2018.

Bangus from Pangasinan, especially from Bonuan in Dagupan City, is widely popular because of its distinct taste. It is even branded as the tastiest milkfish in the world. With the popularity of bangus within the country and abroad, two (2) fisher folk organizations saw PRDP as an opportunity to upgrade their existing operations and cater to the rising demand of the bangus.

Bolo Bongalon Magsaysay Dulig San Gonzalo (BOMADUS) Agrarian Reform Community Multi Purpose Cooperative proposed for a Php 4,405,137-Production and Marketing of Fingerlings and Marketable Size Bangus Enterprise located in Labrador, Pangasinan. The BOMADUS ARC MPC proposed to establish an enterprise that will address the gaps in value chain for bangus industry specifically the growing demand for bangus fries which cannot be supplied by wild fries within the Province of Pangasinan.

Another bangus enterprise is proposed by the Integrated Small Fishpond Owners and Lessees (ISFOL) Multi Purpose Cooperative. The ISFOL MPC’s Production and Marketing of Processed Bangus has a total investment cost of Php 9,547,475. The enterprise features a processing facility of vacuum-packed marinated and boneless bangus. The enterprise is located in Binmaley which produces the most volume of bangus in Pangasinan.

The enterprise proposals will await the issuance of No Objection Letter 1 (NOL) after complying with the recommendations of the RPAB, the regional, cluster, and national coordination offices. ### Dessa U. Estrada, RPCO 1 InfoACE