News Details

Northern Samar Opens First Community Salt & Sardines Facility to Cut Post-Harvest Losses

NPO

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August 13, 2025

TACLOBAN CITY – The Northern Samar provincial government has launched its first community-based salt and sardines production facility in San Vicente town, aiming to tackle long-standing post-harvest losses in the local fisheries sector.

The facility, operated by the Sangputan Workers Association (SWA)—a cooperative of 25 villagers from the coastal community of Sangputan—focuses on producing salt both as a preservative for daily fish catch and as a commodity for the Northern Samar market.

“This sustainable business model was developed through an in-depth workshop assessing the community’s resources, market needs, and post-harvest challenges. The goal is to transform raw marine harvests into high-value products for both local use and wider distribution,” said Jhon Allen Berbon, head of the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), in a phone interview Wednesday.

Initial projections show SWA can produce more than 18 kilos of salt per week from each crystallization module, with plans to expand output as operations grow.

On August 12, the provincial government, through PEDIPO, turned over ₱926,248 worth of equipment, materials, and training support to boost both salt production and sardine processing capabilities.

Officials expect the facility to reduce post-harvest losses, raise production capacity, improve quality standards, and widen the market reach of locally made salt and sardines.

For decades, coastal towns along the San Bernardino Strait—despite their rich fishing grounds—have suffered post-harvest losses of more than 38% of total catch, mainly due to poor handling and the lack of proper storage, Berbon noted.

Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan expressed confidence that the success in Sangputan will inspire similar ventures across Northern Samar, fostering sustainable livelihoods and spurring rural enterprise growth.