More than 300 pond owners, operators, processors, hatchery operators, feed millers, cold storage operators and other stakeholders in the region and from other parts of the country will gather in the 1st Bangus Congress in Western Visayas slated on October 24 - 26, 2006 in this city.
The Iloilo Fish Producers Association, Inc. (IFPA) is the host of this event that carries the theme "Promote and Revitalize the Milkfish Industry in Western Visayas: Market Safe and Quality Products".
The Congress aims to strengthen the bangus industry by linking the different players in the value chain; enhancing business tie-ups between buyers and suppliers; understanding the market requirements and promote the capability of the region as producer of quality bangus and source of quality input materials; and encouraging potential joint ventures, said IFPA, Inc. President Antonio Buyco in a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) press report.
At present, Region 6 has 55,011 hectares of fishponds operated by more than 4,600 fish pond owners. Concentration is in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
The three-day event will kick off with the Opening of Exhibits and Induction of Officers of the different fish producers association at 3:00 p.m. on the 24th. The next day participants will be given update on the status of Bangus Industry in the Philippines by Philip Cruz of Aquaculture Corporation in Negros Occidental.
Other speakers and topics to be discussed on the second day of the Congress include: Milkfish Value Chain by former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Cefererino Follosco; Western Visayas Vision and Direction for the Bangus Industry by former Negros Occidental Governor Daniel "Bitay" Lacson; Current Local Marketing Practices for Hatchery Produced Fry by Jimmy Montalvo, Chairman, National Bangus Philippine Fry Association; Pond Produced Milkfish by David Villaluz, Secretary, IFPA, Inc.; Feed Millers by Christopher Co, Vice President Oversees Feeds Corporation, Cebu City; Canned and Bottled Fish by Nelson Sotomil of Victorias Manufacturing Corporation; Value Added Products by Ramon Macaraig of Alsons; EU Market Demand and Requirements by Dr. Uwe Scholz, Head of Fisheries, GTZ Head Office, Eschborn, Germany; and US Market Demand and Requirements by Dennis Voboril, Director, US Agricultural Trade Office, US Embassy, Manila.
DTI Senior Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino will keynote the event. Also expected to attend the opening are top officials of the city and province of Iloilo and Guimaras and GTZ Trade Policy and Trade Promotion Project Manager Anja Gomm.
A draft resolution that would respond to the needs of the industry is one of the expected outputs of the Congress. (DTI/PIA)
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