The Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over on Saturday the PHP10.5-million technology business incubator project for oyster production to seven local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan.

The project beneficiaries are the towns of Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Binmaley, San Fabian, Sual, and Alaminos City.

In an interview, DA Undersecretary for Agri-industrialization and Fisheries, Cheryl Marie Caballero, said the AquaNegosyo Technology Incubator project is a mechanism to assist organizations, cooperatives, or individuals engaged in the production of oysters.

“We bring the technology, we help them train for that technology, and connect them if needed to access to market and financing,” she said.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will monitor the production and water quality of the area where the incubator will be placed while the National Marine Fisheries Development Center will provide the training.

“Later on, they would be able to produce high quality and quantity of oysters,” she said.

The beneficiaries will have to work as an organization with the Cooperative Development Authority assisting in the setup of a cooperative.

“We have with us processors and their need for raw materials is quite huge that you have to cluster everyone and they are sensitive to the market because they export their products, hence the need to be compliant with the food safety standard. From the production level, the LGUs need to practice sustainable aquaculture and national shellfish sanitation plan,” she said.

Anda Mayor Joganie Rarang thanked the DA and the national government for choosing their town as one of the beneficiaries.

“This will help a lot of the residents in our town especially the fisherfolk,” he said. (PNA)