Bantayan, Cebu – On February 5, 2025, thirty (30) fisherfolk from Bantayan completed a hands-on training on the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of a mechanical dryer, including a session on standardized fish drying processes. This activity builds on the earlier Training of Trainers (ToT) program conducted in September 2024, which produced 11 trained multipliers. Notably, Haydie Tumabiene, a graduate of the first ToT batch, served as a lead facilitator for the session.

Bantayan is widely known in Cebu for its dried fish production. To improve efficiency and product quality, the FISH Visayas Project supported the fabrication and installation of a mechanical dryer for the Sulangan Panitugan Planters Association (SPPA) through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). Compared to traditional open-air drying, the mechanical dryer significantly shortens drying time, minimizes exposure to contaminants, and reduces post-harvest losses due to moisture.

The training aimed to ensure the sustainable and optimal use of this equipment by capacitating SPPA members with the technical know-how to operate and maintain the dryer effectively. To support this, the project also developed training manuals, working instructions, and information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, which are now accessible at the dryer facility.

This initiative not only strengthens local fish processing practices but also contributes to building resilient and sustainable livelihoods among coastal communities in Bantayan.

The success of the training program was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the FISH Visayas Project partners: the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LGU Bantayan, and AFOS Foundation.

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This training directly supports Result Area 1: Training for Fisherfolk and MSMEs and Result Area 3: Market Access of the FISH Visayas Project, further promoting inclusive economic development in coastal areas.