Imbensyon ng Pilipino! Olongapo Mayor To Acquire Fish Processing Equipment

A local invention by an outstanding former OFW from Mindanao which allows the drying of fish even during the rainy season and at night and a sardines-making mini-retort machine has earned the curiousity and interest of the young Mayor of Olongapo City, Rolen Paulino.

Yesterday, after I visited the Seaweeds Farm in the Subic Bay and the sardines-making project of Olongapo women, I called on Mayor Paulino in his office.

Young and full of enthusiasm, the 29-year-old Olongapo Mayor’s eyes literally twinkled when I shared with him ways to improve their fish processing and sardines making.

Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang mga photos and videos of the invention of Outstanding OFW Engr. Rudy Cane of Butuan City, younger brother of Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane which includes a mini-boiler which prodcues steam to “cook” sardines in a small retort machine.

The excess steam is channeled to a plastic-covered dryer to provide heat and allow the drying of fish even during a rainy day or at night.

The mini-boiler is powered by rice hull and the only electicity requirement is for a small fan to keep the rice hull burning.

The whole set-up is less than P500,000 including the installation and is ideal for fishing communities located in remote areas, especially in the fishing communities of Samar and Leyte.

Engr. Cane perfected this set-up when I was Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and several fisherfolk groups in the fishing grounds of Mindanao received this equipment.

Two areas where this is now operating are Olutanga town in Olutanga Island and Nasipit, Agusan del Sur.

Sa ngayon, pressure cooker ang ginagamit ng mga kababaihan ng Olongapo sa paggawa ng bottled sardines at kakaunting bote lang ang puedeng ipasaok.

Ang mga tuyo naman ay ibinibilad lang sa open air at maaring madumihan o malangawan.

Natuwa ako sa ipinakitang interest ni Mayor Paulino and I am now making arrangements para madalaw ng kanyang City Agriculturist Francis Ela Maniago at focal person Alexander Cayron ang facility sa Nasipit, Agusan del Sur even before the elections.

Hopefully, when Olongapo City acquires this fish processing facility, magiging show window ito for other fishing communities in Luzon para kumalat ang napakaganda at napaka-praktical na imbesyon na ito.