September 20, 2024 – Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 3 successfully hosted a hands-on training on the innovative furnace-based salt production technique. The event, aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of local fisherfolk, was a productive collaboration between academia and government.Mr. Stephen Arlo Lapid, Officer-in-Charge of the Fisheries Post-Harvest and Marketing Section of BFAR Region 3, led the training with an insightful presentation on the furnace-based method, which promises a more efficient and sustainable approach to salt production.
The event was facilitated by ASCOT students and faculty from the Casiguran campus, initiated by Mr. Marco F. De Guzman and Ms. Rachel F. Bobes, proponents of the Salt Production project, both from the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, under the guidance of School Administrator Dr. Mark Joseph R. Rafael.
The fisherfolk association from Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag (DiCaDi) actively participated, gaining valuable knowledge to improve their craft. As a highlight, seven complete furnace units were distributed to the fisherfolk, providing them with the tools needed to apply the newly learned technique and boost local salt production.