Maitum will toast its One Town, One Product – the marinated flying fish – with the first Bangsi Festival on January 25 and 26. Residents and guests will also roast 1,000 kilos of flying fish, locally known as bangsi, during the Sugba-sugba sa Kadalanan event.

Bangsi festival would give “more meaning to its One Town, One Product for purpose of promotion to boost the morale of its fisher-folk aiming for higher family income as well as its diverse culture, tourism, and economy.”

The festival’s theme is “Masaganang Maitum,” which is also the town’s official promotional slogan. Coastal barangays here offer high economic potential due to the abundant catch of flying fish, availability of local skills in fish processing, and unique technology on marinating fish being practiced by residents.

Based on a survey by the Center for Advancement and Strengthening of Community Property Rights (CASCO), majority of the fishing households has pamangsihan, a gear used in catching flying fish.

“This indicates how significant flying fish catching plays in the livelihoods of the community, which is done whole year round, with peak season noted during September to May,” CASCO said.

“The men are the ones involved in capture fishing while the women are in fish drying and marinating activities,” CASCO added.

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