MERIDA, Leyte — Transforming a locally abundant resource into a thriving commercial enterprise, 26 women members of the Puerto Bello Settlers and Farmers Association (PBSFA) completed a specialized training program designed to boost economic independence and local food processing capabilities.
Hands-On Enterprise Development
Held from August 24 to 27, 2026, in Barangay Puerto Bello—the largest and most populous coastal barangay in Merida—the four-day Integrated Enterprise Development Training on Bangus Processing provided participants with essential technical and business skills.
Core Standards: Facilitated by Mr. June Ray A. Montajes, Food Technologist from VSU-Tolosa Campus, the sessions covered food safety, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and essential quality control for market readiness.
Value-Added Products: Trainees mastered bangus deboning and preparation, producing five distinct commercial items: Marinated Bangus, Spanish-Style Bangus in Corn Oil, Bangus Tocino, Bangus Nuggets, and Bangus Lumpia.
Business Operations: Beyond product preparation, participants received instruction in product costing and pricing to ensure long-term business profitability.
Inter-Agency Support and Grants
The training initiative was led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Negosyo Center Program, in close partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development–Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP), VSU-Tolosa Campus, and the
Local Government Unit of Merida.
To help transition the association from training to active production, DTI Leyte, under the leadership of Provincial Director Dr. Faustino V. Gayas, Jr., turned over selected processing equipment to PBSFA. Additionally, the association is set to receive a dedicated livelihood grant through the DSWD-SLP to fund the official launch and operational rollout of their bangus processing enterprise.
