The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Ilocos Norte on Thursday rolled out “Operation Plan (Oplan) Isda” to boost the income of local fishers and bring cheaper seafood to consumers.

Vanessa Abegail Dagdagdan, senior aquaculturist of the BFAR Ilocos Norte, said a reefer van carrying frozen bangus (milkfish) and medium-sized shrimps from a mariculture zone in Sual, Pangasinan arrived at the Office of the Provincial Agriculture here.

“About 1,500 metric tons of fish were shipped to Ilocos Norte to supply fish vendors as well as direct consumers,” she said, adding that many residents, mostly from Laoag City, took advantage of the cheaper PHP140/kilo bangus and PHP400/kilo shrimp.

Compared to the public market, the price is relatively cheaper by around PHP50 to PHP100 a kilo.

Resident Wilma Viernes from Sta. Angela village ended up buying five kilos of bangus.

“I am glad the government is doing this to help the plight of consumers who are trying to make ends meet in this time of crisis,” she told the Philippine News Agency.

The “Oplan Isda” project is a government intervention to increase fish production by strengthening fisherfolk cooperatives and boosting their income by directly linking them to sellers and consumers who buy the seafood at lower prices. (PNA)