The DA-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute officially turned-over to the local government unit of Sablayan and the Samahan ng mga Mangingisdang Kababaihan ng Sablayan (SAMAKA) Producers Cooperative the Sablayan Tuna Processing Plant on 9 March 2022 at the Community Fish Landing Center, Sitio Punta, Barangay Poblacion, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

To comply with the regulatory requirements prior to marketing, the facilities of the tuna processing plant was upgraded as part of the project titled, Development and Operationalization of the Business Incubation Program of Various Fisheries and Aquaculture Technologies: Technology Enterprise Promotion of Bottled Tuna in Occidental Mindoro funded by DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). 

The project aimed to facilitate the transfer and commercialization of research-based technologies through the institutionalization of fisheries and aquaculture technology business incubation.

Representing DA-BAR director Dr. Junel Soriano, Dr. Anthony Obligado and staff from the bureau’s Research Coordination Division graced and witnessed the ceremony and signing of the deed of donation.