BACOOR CITY, Cavite –The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) is eyeing the possibility of putting up more depuration (purification) facilities for green mussels (tahong) along the bay areas of the city to boost its mussel industry.
Last April, PCAARRD installed a small-scale depuration facility model along the bay areas in Barangay Alima to allow mussel harvested in the city's bay area to self-cleanse of bacteria that may pose health risks to consumers when mussels are eaten raw or partially cooked.
Test results of the PCAARRD-funded small-scale depuration facility model allows mussels harvested in the bay area to depurate in short period of time.
PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program Manager and Science and Technology (S&T) Research Specialist Kristine Joy Tandang disclosed Tuesday that PCCARRD's program partner, and project implementer Cavite State University (CvSU) Naic conducts continuous functional test runs on the facility's cost-effectiveness and depuration time.
Tandang said the series of tests would also aid them in formulating project output, operations protocol, or help them identify the need for more depuration tanks before handing the facility over to the local government unit (LGU) for commercial use.
The facility is part of the PHP4.9-million project titled “Production of safe mussels using environment-friendly culture methods in sites near urban areas,” which aimed to produce S&T-based solutions in producing safe mussels near urban areas.
The PHP300,000 depuration facility was put up in Bacoor City bay area and houses three tanks where each tank can hold 60 to 90 kilos of mussels and can reduce the bacterial content of mussels within 6 to12 hours.
The facility was established in this city’s Barangay Alima and had its “soft launching” in April this year.
During the launch, PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development Dr. Edwin C. Villar assured the community that the project would push the growth of the mussel industry and benefit the fishing community and the seafood consumers.
Villar also assured PCAARRD’s commitment and continued support to the programs and activities that would promote development and growth of the “tahong’ (green mussel) industry in Cavite.
Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla also graced the soft launching of the facility and expressed her gratitude for the establishment of the facility which ensures a sustainable mussel industry, a great source of livelihood of the city’s fishing village folks.
DOST-PCAARRD, in partnership with the local government unit (LGU), expressed willingness to upscale the prototype facility to benefit more communities and fisher folks.
As the funding agency, PCAARRD has collaborated with the Bacoor City government for the depuration facility in the local counterpart management and provision for the facility site.
The Cavite State University (CvSU)–Naic Campus is managing the project implementation of the science and technology-based facility.( PNA)
