ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (PIA) – The city government said Saturday it is giving it's full support to the Sustained Availability through Genuine and Intensified Preservation of Tamban or “SAGIP Tamban” Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

The recently launched program is aimed at preserving the supply of “tamban,” a fish species used as the primary raw material in the manufacture of canned and bottled sardines in Zamboanga City, said Vic Larato of the City Information Office (CIO).

“Mayor Celso Lobregat, during the launching of the program, said the SAGIP Tamban is an important program as it ensures the survival of the tamban species as well as the sardines industry and the livelihood of some 20,000 to 30,000 workers,” Larato said.

He said the implementation of the close fishing season continuous to pose serious concern to affected stakeholders, especially the workers, as the close fishing season translates to the temporary loss of their income.

Fortunately, the SAGIP Tamban was launched as an alternative employment program for the sardines, fishing and canning industries in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

During the launching of the program, stakeholders like the DoLE, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Industrial Group of Zamboanga signed a pledge of commitment “where the signatories collectively pledged to enroll the various programs on emergency employment, skills training and livelihood as alternative employment programs to the fishermen and the workers in the sardines, fishing and canning industries.