PALO, Leyte – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here in the region will develop a program for bangus (milk fish) processing to help position the bangus industry in the local and international markets this year.

Cynthia Nierras, DTI-8 regional director, said the program will include product development, pilot production and commercialization in cooperation with small and medium entrepreneurs who are already into the bangus industry.

“Bangus industry continuously grows through the years in the region. There is actually a high demand for bangus among hotels and restaurants in Cebu. We can develop smoked bangus aside from selling it fresh inside and outside the region,” Nierras said.

“Smoked bangus can be sold at P200 to P250 per kilogram. The higher the volume of production per day, which is more than 20 kilograms, the lower the production cost, thus further increasing the mark-up to more than 25%. The higher the mark-up, the higher the profit margin,” Nierras said.

Citing data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Nierras said bangus production in Eastern Visayas was 17,000 metric tons (MT) in 2011.

BFAR is eyeing an annual growth rate of 11% from bangus output in the region and all these will be grown in various mariculture zones.

“With the increasing milkfish production in the region, there is a possibility of having excess and unsold fresh milkfish and that is where DTI will come in to assist interested producers to process smoked bangus,” Nierras said.

Nierras said DTI provincial offices have already surveyed local bangus processors for possible technical assistance, access to financing facilities and registration requirements.

“We will also tie up with the Visayas State University in Baybay City for possible mass production of cabinet steamers to produce smoked bangus. These will be loaned to possible bangus processors,” Nierras added.