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GADFP’s traditional method of Baliwis Drying.
They
say the greatest secrets are usually hidden in the most unlikely places. With
six hours travel by boat and an hour travel on a habal-habal, Sittio Guinaygayan in Patnanungan, one of the
municipality in the Polillo Group of Islands, may not be the typical hidden gem
on the surface, but beneath the downside is a secret worth knowing; their rich
culture of pagtutuyo.
Located in an island municipality with
the Pacific Ocean surrounding it, Patnanungan’s bodies of water are blessed
with bountiful harvests of diverse fish species. With this, fishing has been
identified as the municipality’s main source of livelihood. Some areas sell the
fishes as they are, while some, process it further. Zeroing in on Sittio Guinaygayan, pagtutuyo or fish drying of Baliwis has been one of their high profit
sideline. Through their traditional knowledge on pagtutuyo and their organized group Guinaygayan Association of
Dried Fish Processors (GADFP), they were able to jumpstart an industry that
could achieve many possibilities. The greatest of which is turning their
sideline into a sustainable industry.
According to Mr. Emiliano Dellova Jr.,
member and treasurer of GADFP, an estimated 100 kilos of Dried Baliwis can be produced by a single member of GADFP in one
week during its peak season. This fact alone gives a glimpse of the industry’s
huge potential as the numbers were produced without the help of a fish dryer
and without a standardized process. Imagine what more realities could
transpire. Imagine the extent to which science and technology could help GADFP
achieve more.
S&T
through DOST with GADFP
These imaginations soon found its’ way to fruition as
things worked in GADFP’s favor. The island municipality of Patnanungan was
included in DOST’s priority municipalities in geographically isolated and
disadvantaged areas. Through DOST’s Enhanced Community Empowerment thru Science
and Technology (CEST) program, LGU-Patnanungan has been enrolled in different S&T
interventions like water and sanitation, health and nutrition, disaster risk
reduction management, education, basic education and literacy and livelihood/economic
enterprise development (L/EED). Under the L/EED, GADFP has been the key
beneficiary for livelihood with their Baliwis
dried fish industry. From then on, GADFP has undergone different stages of DOST’s
S&T interventions starting from the Technology Needs Assessment (TNA), to
different trainings like technology training on the processing of dried fish
and other fish products which was facilitated by the experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR 4A). The recent intervention granted was through a seminar
training on basic food hygiene and good manufacturing practices conducted by
the DOST-Quezon Food Safety Team. The trainings and seminars conducted aimed to
not just instill new and proper knowledge on fish drying to GADFP members, but
also to help them collect and document their individual fish drying practices
and turn it into a standardized process of GADFP’s Baliwis fish drying.
Aside
from the technical know-how, GADFP’s seasonal production due to weather
constraints is on the process of being answered. Through the dynamic collaboration
of LGU-Patnanungan and DOST, GADFP now have their very own fish drying facility.
DOST has already downgraded funds and have facilitated the purchase of a fish
dryer, upright freezer, stainless steel working table, tables with sink, and
vacuum packaging machine. The LGU, on the other hand, has already secured the
land and has provided the funds for the newly-constructed building the structure
of the facility.
Fueled
hopes
With
the different S&T interventions GADFP has been showered with, the return is
not just enhanced knowledge or better processes, more so fueled hopes. When
asked about what they feel toward their new Fish Drying Facility, Dellova
answered with the future he now envisions for their association.
“Siguro
pwede na po kami mag-dispose sa malalaking lugar katulad ng sa mga SM ganon….Siguro
kung maganda yung aming proseso ng kalakal medyo gaganda yung aming presyo.”
GADFP’s
story however is just beginning to unfold. Collaboration with LGU, a proactive
association, and the willingness to learn and grow of GADFP are just some of
the vital factors which triggered the start of their plotline. With a dream in
mind and a clear vision of the storyline they want to achieve, GADFP is surely
on its way to making their brand of Dried
Baliwis known better by a wider market.
The
CEST program in Patnanungan is continuously making an effort to foster the
culture of science and technology application in different basic focal areas.
When it comes to livelihood, with the proper dose of science and technology,
GADFP and Patnanungan’s Dried Baliwis will hopefully find its’ way to the
frontline. (
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