‘Bangus longganiza’ soon in the market

Soon in the local and international markets: "Bangus longganiza".

To those who relish pork "longganiza" but are deterred by its bad cholesterol content, the milkfish version is a welcome variant.

A research along this line has been spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (DOST-PCIERD).

The PCIERD-supported project is titled "Improved Processing of Milkfish, Pilot Production and Test Marketing: Project Research and Development of Value-added Products from Full-grown Milkfish."

It is being implemented by the Institute of Fish Processing Technology (IFPT) of the UP Visayas College of Fisheries in Miag-ao, Iloilo. Cooperating agency is the AQUASUR Resources Corp. of the Alcantara Group of Companies.

PCIERD executive director Graciano Yumul Jr. said the "bangus longganiza" was launched last November during the Asian Ethnic Food Fest at the World Trade Center in Manila.

For the occasion, Alson’s the project’s private cooperator, made a pilot production of 300 kilograms of milkfish longganiza.

The project’s second phase involves shelf-life testing and package development for new products.

Although the formulation for fish longganiza was already standardized and appropriate packaging was selected, the establishment of its shelf-life is ongoing, PCIERD reported.

"It is expected that the developed products will soon find their way to the export market," it stated. — Rudy A. Fernadez