By Marie Sol Buntag

CAMIGUIN Province — To enhance the technical capabilities and entrepreneurial competencies of fisherfolk beneficiaries, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2 of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region – 10 (BFAR-10) spearheaded a specialized training on tilanggit (dried tilapia) processing for the Sagay Inland Fish Growers Association (SIFGA) and the Tangaro Freshwater Fish Raisers Association (TFWFRA) on October 3, 2025 in Barangay Tangaro, Catarman, Camiguin.

Around 20 participants from both associations took part in the specialized training facilitated by the personnel of the Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) of Camiguin, led by Provincial Fishery Officer (PFO) Mark Alphonse A. Buniel. Report Officer Lea L. Bucog of the Post-Harvest and Marketing Section (PHMS) of the BFAR-10 Regional Office, served as the resource speaker and equipped the participants with practical knowledge and skills on tilanggit processing to enhance their post-harvest practices and improve product value.

The participants learned the complete procedure—from deboning, marinating, and sun-drying—to produce tilanggit. The hands-on activity allowed beneficiaries to gain practical experience at every stage of the process, ensuring a deeper understanding of proper post-harvest techniques.

Emphasizing the significance of the training, the speaker underscored the importance of value-adding practices in aquaculture, demonstrating how fisherfolk can maximize their tilapia harvests and transform them into marketable products such as tilanggit (tilapia in a size of danggit). She added that by adopting these practices, associations can create sustainable livelihood opportunities, diversify income sources, and strengthen community-based enterprise development.

Looking ahead, the associations expressed their commitment to apply what they have learned. As part of the ways forward, SIFGA and TFWFRA plan to hold meetings to discuss the utilization of small-sized tilapia during harvests and prepare for the procurement of tilapia fingerlings next year to sustain post-harvest processing activities.