Practical Research I, STEM B (Banyuhay), Group 9, January 2019

COGNIZANCE ON THE Practical Research I

STEM B (Banyuhay)
Group 9
FISH HANDLING PRACTICES January 2019

AND SANITATION IN MAGSAYSAY

PUBLIC MARKET IN AT DAGUPAN CITY

Dan Albert Dela Cruz, Jhon Fritzter Gemiano, Joisa Lajera,

Robert Coy Sison, Imee Cristina Vila, Christian Vinluan
Pangasinan State University—Lingayen Campus—Senior High School

Date Received: January 17, 2018; Date Revised: January 10, 2019

Abstract - Public markets are prone to bacteria. It is where the source of livelihood
for fish vendors is located. That is why the important characteristic of a market should
have is cleanliness. How vendors handle their products for the safety of consumers is
also important in order to avoid the risk of getting diseases caused by a filthy
environment and improper handling of fish. The purpose of this study is to determine
the fish handling practices and sanitation procedures of the fish vendors and to provide
information about the current condition of Magsaysay public market. The method used
in this research is qualitative data. The techniques used were interview and a
questionnaire wherein the respondents were the fish vendors. Findings showed that the
vendors are doing their work properly. But they also need instantaneous actions like
the rehabilitation of the drainage systems and the proper usage of market facilities.
The researchers recommend the rehabilitation of the drainage systems and the proper
usage of market facilities. The researchers also recommend the information gathered
by the researchers should be disseminated for the awareness of the people about the
current situation of the market. In addition, further study should be conducted to
determine the changes in the public market.
Keywords: Fish vendors, Fish handling practices, sanitation

INTRODUCTION Philippines is an archipelago

consisting of more than 7,000 islands.
According to WEPA, the purpose of According to Javier (2018), Philippines
the Presidential Decree No. 856, s. 1975, have 10 million hectares of land suitable for
the Code in Sanitation, is to prescribe agriculture out of a total land mass of 30
sanitation requirements for food million hectares. In 2009, the Philippine
establishments and refuse collections and Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted a
disposal system of cities and municipalities. survey and showed that the poorest
Filipinos among the poor are the 1.6 million
households of fisher folks and coastal

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dwellers who rely their food needs and fish ponds and is dependent on natural food
income on fishing. In 2015, the fishing (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2018).
Industry contributed P240 billion to the
economy of the Philippines. Although the city is categorized as
urban in its entirety, one third of the 31
However, like most of the rest of barangays are still devoted into agricultural
agriculture, fisheries production is production and nine remain as fishing
declining over the last decade. Whereas communities. (Philippine Statistics
Philippines have not invested enough in Authority, 2018). That is why the major
modern vessels and fishing gear. source of income among the coastal
Additionally, the Philippines has not residents today is fishing and salt making.
established enough fish ports with the In addition, Dagupan City is known to be
appropriate dry and cold storage facilities to the biggest entreport not only in the
minimize post-harvest losses (Javier, Province of Pangasinan but the whole of
2018). However, the following year, Region I (Dagupan City, 2016).
according to Food and Agriculture
Organization (2017), the Philippines ranked Since Magsaysay public market is
eighth among the top fish producers in the the largest fish port in Dagupan City, the
world with Central Visayas at the forefront. aim of this study is to observe the fish
handling practices and sanitation
Dagupan City is located on the procedures of the vendors.
northern part of Pangasinan province and is
approximately 200 kilometers north of Sanitation refers to the maintenance
Manila. The city is bounded by Lingayen of hygienic conditions, through services
Gulf in the north, Mangaldan in the east, such as garbage collection and wastewater
Calasiao in the south and Binmaley in the disposal. Inadequate sanitation is a major
west. It has an area of 37. 2 square source of disease world-wide and
kilometers and is comprised of 31 improving sanitation is known to have a
barangays. The major land formation in the significant beneficial impact on health both
area includes a coastal plain having an in households, communities and facilities
almost flat terrain slopes ranging from zero (World Health Organization, 2018).
to three percent while the rest are In fact, food poisoning from fish is
considered swampy areas, ponds and other very rare, although some cases about
forms of wetlands. Among the coastal consuming fish are reported every year in
municipalities in Pangasinan, Dagupan many places, such cases are mostly caused
City has the second largest wetland area of by bacteria like Escherichia cold, vibrios
25.3 square kilometers (Philippine and salmonella, which could be attached on
Statistics Authority, 2018). fish. That is why many local fish markets
The city is long regarded as the have now been undertaking various
prime producer and exporter of the popular activities aimed at managing quality control
milkfish, and is the "Bangus Capital of the and safety of fish products from landing to
Philippines". In addition, Dagupan City is transport and selling in order to ensure the
the Philippines' leading aquaculture safety of local consumers (Sato, Matsumoto
industry (Dagupan City, 2016). From 2001 & Kawata, 2010).
to 2003, Dagupan's milkfish production OBJECTIVES
totalled to 35,560.1 metric tons,
contributing 16.8 percent to the total The main purpose of this study is to
provincial production. Bonuan bangus is determine the fish handling practices and
preferred by many because of its savoury sanitation of fish vendors at Magsaysay
taste and palatability that is grown only in public market in Dagupan City.

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Specifically, the study aimed to: (1) to In 2009, the Philippine Statistics
determine the awareness of fish vendors on Authority (PSA) conducted a survey and
the fish handling practices and sanitation in showed that the poorest Filipinos among
terms of: (a) market floor (b) preserved the poor are the 1.6 million households of
fish temperature (c) sorting of fish (d) fisher folks and coastal dwellers who rely
containers. (2) To determine the status of their food needs and income on fishing.
the drainage system at Magsaysay public The survey demonstrated the difference
market in Dagupan City. (3) To determine between the mean annual income of fisher
the availability of washing facilities in folk to other households which was P70 000
Magsaysay public market. and P144 000, respectively (Javier, 2018).

Significance of the Study The three sub-sectors of fishing

industry includes the commercial fishing
The study aims to determine the through boats with tonnage in excess of
awareness of the fish vendors on the fish three tons while municipal fishing with
handling practices and sanitation in boats weighing three tons or less. On the
Magsaysay public market in Dagupan City. other hand, the artificial culture of fish can
The findings of the study will serve as an be conducted in three kinds of water
eye-opener for the fish vendors in order to environments, in inland fresh waters,
ensure a sanitary environment to assure the coastal brackish waters, and salty marine
safety of consumers. In addition, the study waters (Javier, 2018).
will provide insights to fish consumers
regarding the current condition of the said In 2015, the fishing industry
fish market. contributed P240 billion to the economy of
the Philippines with its three sub-sectors,
Scope and Limitation namely commercial fisheries, municipal
fisheries and aquaculture, each sub-sectors
The focus of the study is about the
contributed P65 billion, P81 billion and P93
consumers’ awareness on the fish handling
billion, respectively. However, like most of
practices and sanitation of fish vendors in
the rest of agriculture, fisheries production
Dagupan City. The site of the study will be
is declining over the last decade. Whereas
at Magsaysay public market in Dagupan
the inland and coastal waters of the country
City. Whereas the place is one of the
are degraded and overfished. In addition,
largest fish port area and considering the
Philippines have not invested enough in
proximity of residence of the researchers.
modern vessels and fishing gear to enable
The study is expected to be finished on the
the country’s commercial fishing fleet to go
year 2018.
far into deep waters and beyond the
REVIEW OF RELATED exclusive economic zone. Also, the
LITERATURE Philippines has not established enough fish
ports with the appropriate dry and cold
According to Javier (2018), storage facilities to minimize post-harvest
Philippines have 10 million hectares of land losses. Moreover, the country did not
suitable for agriculture out of a total land invested enough in aquaculture and
mass of 30 million hectares. On the other development of fish products that can
hand, the country has 220 million hectares compete in the world market. That is why
of territorial waters including the exclusive the new DFAR sets an agenda to resolve the
economic zone with 750 000 hectares of issues. To avoid further destruction of coral
inland waters, and a coastline of 17 460 reefs one of the agenda is to protect the
kilometres. In fact, Philippines have vast habitats of fishes in order to avoid
fisheries and aquatic resources which is not overfishing and to allow the fishes grow in
sufficiently tapped. marketable size. Additionally, to expand

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the fish pens, fish cages and fish ponds Gulf, an important commercial fishing area.
there will be more investments in It has been an important transportation
aquaculture to improve hatchery and grow- centre and fish landing port that was
out technologies (Javier, 2018). enhanced by the opening of a now defunct
railway line to Manila. As a result of good
Based on the data of PSA, there was transportation and fisheries, a number of
a fish supply deficit of coastal marine secondary industries have grown up in the
fisheries in 2015, particularly in the inland area which include boat and fishing gear
areas of Mindanao. That is why Mindanao manufacturing and sales, as well as fish
only produced 35% of the country’s total processing (World Aquaculture, 1998).
municipal marine fisheries and 30% of its
municipal inland fisheries (Guerrero, In the local language of Pangasinan,
2017). “Dagupan” means "gathering place", since
the city has been a local market core
However, the following year throughout the centuries with an area of
according to Food and Agriculture 37.2 square kilometers and is comprised of
Organization (2017), the Philippines ranked 31 barangays. The city is long regarded as
eighth among the top fish producers in the the prime producer and exporter of milkfish
world with Central Visayas at the forefront. and known for its high quality milkfish
In 2017, the total agriculture output products that is why it is the “Bangus
results was 17.40 percent. The fisheries sub Capital of the Philippines”. Additionally,
sector registered a 4.27 percent decline in Dagupan City is the Philippines’ leading
output from a decline of 2.58 percent last aquaculture industry, aside from milkfish
year. According to the Philippine Statistics other principal cultured fish species are
Authority (2017), the country’s milkfish tilapia, shrimp, and seaweeds (Geography,
production contracted by 0.73 percent due 2018).
to heavy siltation in the marine cages in Although the city is categorized as
Davao del Sur which prompted the local urban in its entirety, one third of the
government unit to issue an advisory to barangays are still devoted into agricultural
limit fishing activities because of water production and nine remain as fishing
pollution brought about by too much feeds. communities that is why the major source
Meanwhile, the harvested smaller sizes of of income among the coastal residents
milkfish from brackish water fish ponds in today is fishing and salt making
Bulacan was the result of sudden rains from (Geography, 2018).
hot weather in July. Likewise, the use of
poor quality fingerlings and the effects of METHODOLOGY
changes in weather conditions negatively
affected the production of milkfish in Research Design
Zambales. While in CALABARZON due
to possible dismantling of fish pens by the This study uses descriptive-survey
Laguna Lake Development Authority there research design in investigating the
was a temporary stoppage of some farming awareness on fish handling practices and
operations (Miraflor, 2017). sanitation in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

Among the coastal municipalities in Respondents of the Study

Pangasinan, Dagupan City has the second The respondents of the study are the
largest wetland area with 25.3 square local fish vendors of Dagupan City
kilometres (Geography, 2018). The city is Magsaysay public market who either owns
situated in the river delta estuary system of and/ or manage in the selling and handling
the Agno River at the head of the Lingayen of fish.

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Research Instrument facilities in Magsaysay Public Market are

also observed.
The researchers will use a criteria
for evaluating the sanitation on fish
handling practices and to identify the
benefits on the sanitation procedure by the
fish vendors in Dagupan City. The said
criteria determined the awareness of the
fish vendors on the fish handling practices
and sanitation in terms of market floor,
waste water, preserved fish temperature,
sorting of fish, and the containers used by
the fish vendors. Figure 1. From the total of 50 respondents,
52% said that the market floor is sometimes
Data Source Gathering
slippery with a total number of 26 while 4%
The researchers selected the said never, and 44% said always.
participants who will give sufficient
background information to the study
through interviews to gather data.
Next is to conduct a survey. The
researchers conducted the survey and used
a questionnaire in order to obtain a copy of
the conversation for references and to note
and list information regarding about the
study. Transcribing and analyzing the data.
The gathered data together with the Figure 2. From the total of 50 respondents,
interview findings were then carefully 74% said that the market floor is sometimes
analyzed, and interpreted in order for the covered with mud with a total number of 37
similarities and differences of the data to be while 8% said never, and 18% said always.
determined and was well constructed in
order for the researchers to ‘take hold’ of
the defined data without the need to worry
about contamination of the listing with
incorrect information.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of the study are based on
the respondents from Magsaysay Public
Market in Dagupan City. The local fish
Figure 3. From the total of 50 respondents,
consumers and fish vendors were the
92% said that the market floor is always wet
subject of the study with a total number of
with a total number of 46 while 8% said
50 respondents. The perception of the
sometimes with a total number of 4.
consumers and vendors regarding the
market were determined by their
observation on the market floor, appearance
of the fish, way of sorting the fish and the
containers used in storing the fish. The
condition of the drainage and washing

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Figure 4. From the total of 50 respondents, Figure 7. From the total of 50 respondents,
68% said that sometimes there are animals 94% said that the fishes were always
strolling inside the market with a count of arranged according to their kind while 6%
34 respondents while 10% said always, and said sometimes with a count of 3
22% said never. respondents.

Figure 5. From the total of 50 respondents, Figure 8. From the total of 50 respondents,
78% said that the fishes always have clear 82% said that the fishes were never
eyes with a count of 39 respondents while arranged randomly with a count of 41
22% said sometimes. respondents while 16% said sometimes,
and 2% said always.

Figure 6. From the total of 50 respondents,

82% said that the gills of the fishes are Figure 9. From the total of 50 respondents,
always red with a count of 41 respondents 58% said that ice boxes were always used
while 8% said never, and 10% said in storing the fishes while 42% said
sometimes. sometimes.

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Figure 10. From the total of 50 Figure 13. From the total of 50
respondents, 90% said that fish tubs were respondents, 78% said that the drainage
always used in storing the fishes with a total always contain market wastes and garbage
number of 45 while 10% said sometimes. with a count of 39 while 22% said
sometimes.

Figure 11. From the total of 50

respondents, 54% said that the drainage is Figure 14. From the total of 50
sometimes capable of sustaining the flood respondents, 78% said that the drainage
waters with a total number of 27 while 32% always contain market wastes and garbage
said never, and 14% said always. with a count of 39 while 22% said
sometimes.

Figure 12. From the total of 50

respondents, 78% said that the public Figure 15. From the total of 50
market is always prone to flooding respondents, 68% said that sometimes the
whenever it rains with a total number of 39 public market has adequate amount of
while 22% said sometimes. water with a total number of 34 while 24%
said always, and 8% said never.

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Figure 16. From the total of 50

respondents, 76% said that sometimes the
washrooms have enough cleaning products
with a count of 38 while 22% said never,
and 2% said always.
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Public markets are prone to bacteria
which can cause health-related problems.
That is why the sanitation of the place
should be observed regularly. In addition,
it is necessary for the fish vendors to handle
the fish they sell properly in order to lessen
the risk of consuming bacteria by the
consumers. In a conducted study, fish
vendors used fish tub and ice box to store
the fish. The fishes were also arranged
according to their kind. Additionally, the
fishes are fresh and in good-quality that is
why it is safe to eat. Moreover, the public
market has enough washing facilities which
can help the vendors achieve a sanitary
place. Although the public market is prone
to flooding and the drainage is not that
capable of sustaining the flood waters that
contains market wastes and garbages.
While the market floor is partially wet
which make the floor sometimes slippery,
covered with mud, and sometimes there are
animals seen strolling in the market. It is
recommended that the local government
should take a plan regarding the drainage
system of Magsaysay public market in
Dagupan City for further cleanliness of the
place. This study is limited. This study does
not guarantee the current condition of the
said public market. Anytime the
observations regarding the condition of
Magsaysay public market can be changed.

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