Bulk-buying of sardines mulled

Cannery owners are mulling bulk-buying sardines from municipal fishers to sustain their livelihood and keep the cheap prices of the canned goods, a social product that has helped keep Filipino families afloat, especially during disasters and calamities. At a press conference on Monday, Francisco Buencamino, executive director of the Sardines Canners Association of the Philippines, said his group would need the support of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to support the proposed initiative. “We want to discuss this matter with the BFAR but they are not responsive to our letters. I would love the privilege of having discussions with them. We need to directly agree to craft an agreement, which will also help us avert any crisis,” Buencamino told reporters.