Dagupan to implement bangus labeling

DAGUPAN CITY , Philippines – No more mislabeling, goodbye to misrepresentation of Dagupan bangus (milkfish) from outside sources whose producers make the claim as a marketing strategy.

This, as the Dagupan city council recently passed an ordinance to institutionalize measures for the branding of its famous product bangus (milkfish) and other Dagupan bangus products.

Authored jointly by councilors Jeslito Seen and Marcelino Fernandez, Ordinance 2028-2015 titled “Institutionalizing Measures for the Promotion and Advancement of Bangus Industry in Dagupan City” hopes to finally implement bangus tagging.

Consequently, fresh Dagupan bangus and other Dagupan bangus products would be easily distinguished from other bangus as they would bear the logo “Dagupan Certified” from accredited Dagupan bangus growers, dealers and processors.   

Seen said Section 54 of City Ordinance 1768-2003 states that the city government would adopt an effective labeling system, whereby fish products originating from Dagupan City or Dagupan bangus are set apart from any other fish and all fish products coming from other sources.

He added that the city actively participated in the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project of the Department of Trade and Industry which focused on Dagupan bangus as the “One Town, One Product” of the province of Pangasinan.

“In line with the promotion and advancement of the bangus industry in Dagupan, there is a need for an enabling legislation or supplemental legislation that will provide mechanism for the effective implementation of Section 54 of Ordinance 1768-2003,” Seen added.

The approved ordinance also aims to create the Bangus Industry Development Council (BIDC) as the policy-making body, the Bangus Industry Development Office(BIDO) as the secretariat or implementing body of BIDC, the accreditation, monitoring, branding and marketing teams under BIDO and the Technical Working Group as coordinating body to the BIDC.

It would also formulate guidelines for the branding process of Dagupan bangus and other Dagupan bangus products as “Dagupan Certified”.

The measure would provide mechanisms for accreditation of Dagupan bangus growers, dealers and processors, revocation of the Certificate of Accreditation and providing administrative penalties for the violation of the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Accreditation.

Under the ordinance, only the fresh Dagupan bangus or accredited growers and dealers may be tagged upon proof of a Certificate of Origin issued by the monitoring team.

The branding team would check the quality of fresh bangus submitted for tagging or labeling.

The monitoring team would also  conduct periodic monitoring, ocular inspection and visit to stores, stalls, business establishments, farm and production plants of accredited growers, dealers or processors to ensure their strict compliance to existing national and local laws, rules and regulations and the terms and conditions of the memorandum of agreement.

The monitoring team would likewise conduct inspection during the harvest of bangus from fishponds, fish cages and other production mediums for the purpose of issuing corresponding Certificate of Origin. It would  also certify the origin of bangus and the bangus used in processed bangus products. It would also monitor the use of tags or labels by the accredited processor to ensure that these tags or labels are not used or stamped on other bangus or bangus products not duly certified.

To better promote Dagupan bangus, a team would conduct intensified marketing and promotion of the product in provincial, regional, national and global markets.

It would also identify retail and wholesale markets as well as restaurants, hotels and other outlets for Dagupan bangus and Dagupan bangus products.

It would also participate in local and international trade or market fairs to promote Dagupan bangus and Dagupan bangus products.

For accreditation process, a processor applying for accreditation who passed the initial assessment and validation would be subjected to ocular inspection and validation visit of the production plant by the accreditation team. This is to ensure that the production plant is “compliant” with the minimum requirements provided by law, rules and regulations.

Only those bangus growers or dealers with Certificate of Origin issued by the monitoring team would be labeled at the branding center. Tagging or labeling of the fresh bangus would  be done by batch per accredited grower or dealer at the branding center only. Each tag or label of fresh Dagupan bangus costs 50 centavos.

Violators would be subject to an administrative fines/penalties of P4,000 to P5,000, and cancellation of accreditation for the first, second and third offenses, respectively.

Separate criminal sanctions would also be imposed under the ordinance.

An annual budget of P8 million would be allocated to cover the salaries and wages of personnel, marketing and promotion, purchase of supplies and all that is necessary for the implementation of the ordinance.

Mayor Belen Fernandez has been batting for an added-value for this city’s pride, its bangus, through proper strategies that would set it apart from other bangus produced elsewhere.

She said it has been proven through the ages that Dagupan bangus is the tastiest, but has been constantly misrepresented by unscrupulous businessmen.

She pushed for the passage of measures to secure the Dagupan bangus and boost its marketability.

What makes Dagupan bangus distinct?

Lablab, a natural fish food, grows during hot weather in the rivers here because of the nutrients and the kind of soil in the city. Not all areas, however,  are lucky to have this but the city, especially in the Bonuan area, are blessed to have it, thus the popular Bonuan bangus.

Dagupan is the benchmark in lablab production. Lablab is a first-class natural food of bangus.There are designated areas where bangus is fed solely on lablab and these would naturally command a higher price.

Dagupan bangus has remained the pride of the city because of its superior taste. It’s an open secret that “lablab, “ which grows luxuriantly and exclusively in the waters of Bonuan, is a first-class natural food that gives Dagupan bangus its distinctive taste and aroma.

Tidal action, resulting in the regular flushing of fishpond water, greatly influences the growth of “lablab”.

Bonuan, a fishpond area in Dagupan City whose estuaries are monitored by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center, has been certified to have clean water free of microbial and industrial pollutants all year-round. Hence, Dagupan bangus does not have that silty or muddy flavor sometimes found in other bangus.