Calbayog to ship dried fish to US

CALBAYOG CITY, Feb. 27  -- This city will bring the taste of dried fish to the United States, an official confirmed on Tuesday.

Samar (1st District) Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento said a private company that owns chains of store abroad would ship dried fish from Calbayog to the US to cater to Filipino communities.

“There is a great demand for dried fish in the US. We are not yet sure in terms of the number, but we are hoping that Calbayog City and Samar province will be one of the suppliers,” Sarmiento said.

There are about four million Filipinos currently living in the US, the second largest Asian group in that country, according to the US Census Bureau.

The company, which the solon declined to name, has already invested in improving the packaging and labeling of dried fish.

“They also committed to provide a fish drying machine so that people don’t have to rely on sunlight to dry the marine product,” Sarmiento added.

This development will particularly benefit poor fishing communities of Maguino-o, a village in the northern part of the city.

The city is known for producing Labtinao, a dried fish delicately marinated in local vinegar and seasoned with spice.

The lawmaker is optimistic that the potential of dried fish in the US market will compel fishing communities to protect marine resources to ensure sustainable fish production. (RTA/PNA)