PROJECTS. Members of the two organizations in Sual town, Pangasinan check on the equipment they received from the Department of Science and Technology. The multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer was given in time for the season when they find it difficult to dry their products fast. (Photo courtesy of DOST Ilocos Region)
SUAL, Pangasinan – The Sual Dried Fish Vendors Association in this town has received equipment worth PHP313,600 from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that would boost their production even during rainy season.
In a phone interview on Thursday, Florencia Orfelia, the president of the organization, said the multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer was given in time for the season when they find it difficult to dry their products fast.
“Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa DOST at sa local government unit (LGU) ng Sual at kami ang napili (We are thankful to the DOST and to the LGU Sual for choosing us),” she said.
Orfelia said it usually takes one and a half days for them to dry thin kinds of fishes and two to three days for thick-skinned fishes.
“But with the dryer, during the testing, it took only two hours to dry a batch of fish,” she said.
She added that they hope to get additional dryers as this may not accommodate the number of their products.
“We also requested the DOST and the LGU to also train us and give us materials for the production of fish sauce since there are lean months for our dried fish production and some of the fishes that we were unable to dry were wasted,” she said.
DOST staff member Bernalyn Martinez said the organization and the Matico farmers Swisa Inc., which are both from Sual town, were the first recipients of the innovation, Science, and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-Based Development program.
“This program is a collaboration of the LGU and the DOST. The LGU endorsed these organizations to the DOST to give them equipment, training, and other necessary materials needed to improve their production quality and quantity,” she said. (PNA)
