A P1 million financial assistance has been granted to the Southern Negros Agri-fisheries Multipurpose Cooperative by the Department of Science and Technology in Negros Oriental for the technology upgrading of its milkfish and shrimp production, its press release said.

DOST Provincial Director Gilbert Arbon presented  a check for P999,800 to Sonamco general manager Juventud Chavez for the technology upgrading of its machine-operated marine production in Dumaguete City. The fund will come from the agency Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program.

It also provided equipment like three 7hp (horse power) submersible pumps, two 5hp submersible pumps, 11 paddle wheel accelerators, three root blowers, one D.O. meter and a refract meter, the press release said.

Arbon said all the machineries will be employed in a water reservoir and a fish pond. These would also reduce electricity consumption, he added.

The SETUP aids in enabling quicker, convenient and efficient production of the company’s valuable aquatic products like fresh shrimps and bangus, milkfish processing, and in deboning and bottling milkfish.

Sonamco, a registered cooperative formed in 1997, produces high quality milkfish and other aquatic products but only uses the traditional way of production. It started operation in Barangay Sumaliring, Siaton town, and recently branched out to a new facility in Bais City, also in Negros Oriental.

The cooperative employs about 100 skilled workers, 34 direct workers, 27 workers for production, seven hands for non-production and 50 indirect and contract employees, the press release added.*

back to top