CONCEPCION, Iloilo — A new P1.71-million blue swimming crab pre-processing and trading center here is expected to cut production costs, improve food safety and open access to larger local and international markets for fisherfolk in the island barangay of Igbon.
Before the center was established, local fishermen and women bought fresh crabs along the shoreline and processed and steamed them in household kitchens or privately owned cooking stations, resulting in additional expenses and inconsistent working conditions.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6, the Concepcion municipal government and the Barangay Igbon Kasagan Association (BIGKAS) inaugurated the facility recently in Sitio Punta Ayan.
BFAR-6 director Remia Aparri said the dedicated facility would improve fish-handling practices and help the community comply with food safety standards and good manufacturing practices.
“This has been a long-standing aspiration of BIGKAS: to produce fresh, safe-to-eat crab within their own community. This facility not only creates an additional income stream but also opens up avenues for local and international markets,” said Aparri.
Funded under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Phase 2 Program, the two-story center stands on a 50-square-meter lot donated by the Arinaza family through a renewable 20-year deed of usufruct with the municipal government and BFAR-6.
The facility has a fishery store and a cooking station equipped with tables and specialized baskets for preparing and steaming crabs.
BIGKAS president Celso Arinaza Jr., who also represented the donor family, called on community members to work collectively to sustain the facility amid challenges confronting the crab industry.
“Whatever crises we are facing today, we must work together and never give up. Every problem has a solution. This building is our shared responsibility, and it is not meant to be managed by only a few people. We must unite and work together,” he said.
BIGKAS will operate the center under the technical supervision of BFAR-6 and the Concepcion municipal government, with oversight from the barangay government.
A management committee composed of representatives from BFAR-6, the municipal and barangay governments, and local picking-station owners will supervise operations.
The center will also follow a comprehensive operations manual covering facility maintenance, policies and quality-assurance procedures.
The SAAD Phase 2 Program provides sustainable livelihood opportunities to vulnerable fisherfolk and disadvantaged fishing communities. It supports the establishment of community-based fishery enterprises to reduce poverty, strengthen food security and promote inclusive economic growth./PN
