The Research and Development Management Office of the Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the city government, through the city agriculture office, signed a memorandum of understanding for the project, “Comprehensive Profiling of the Milkfish Processing Industry in Dagupan City.”
 

The MOU signing was held on February 28 at the LNU Multi-Purpose Hall.
 

In his message, Brian Lim, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim’s chief of staff, noted the timeliness of the study in order to improve the bangus industry in Dagupan City.
 

“Bangus Festival was staged to highlight bangus as a main product of Dagupan. But now we have to be more scientific and educated in promoting the bangus industry,” Lim said.      
 

Lim stressed the imperative need for a Bangus Processing Plant in order to stabilize the price of Dagupan bangus even as he bared that the production of bangus in Dagupan is higher than that of Saranggani.
 

City agriculturist Emma Molina said that study aims to present a profile of the existing milkfish deboning industry in the city in terms of the socio-economic profile of the processors, their profitability, the employment opportunities generated from the industry and the precautionary measures use by the processors with regards to sanitation and environmental conservation.
 

“The information to be generated in the study can be used by the milkfish processors as indicators for possible expansion area or diversification and improvement of their product which can be offered to consumers,” Molina pointed out even as she said that the undertaking can lead to research and development endeavors to improve quality of existing products, thus, consumers will benefit with more varieties and quality processed milkfish.   
 

She added that the data generated will be useful to the government in formulating policies or strategies to further improve the milkfish processing industry, generate more jobs and income for the city.
 

The study also aims to conduct an assessment of the quality control and storage procedures, marketing, pricing, and channels of distribution of the finished product.
 

According to the Research and Development Management Office of the Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), the proponents of the project, the results of the study can also be used by the city as a basis in determining the most immediate beneficiaries of the Bangus Processing Plant which the city is planning to set up.
 

The project was conceptualized by the Research and Development Management Office of LNU under its Community Research and Development Program (CRDP) as LNU’s contribution as an academic institution to research and development in the city. (Sunshine D. Robles)