Catarman, Northern Samar (10 August) -- A coastal town in Northern Samar opens its doors to business opportunities as it tries to draw enterprising individuals to invest in bangus culture in the recently declared 700 hectare Mariculture Zone.

San Jose, one of the more progressive towns of the province will grow fishes that can be cultured. This venture is the focus of a week long, first ever Bangus Festival being celebrated by the town on August 8-14, 2005.

It was learned from the local Department of Trade and Industry that San Jose will specifically develop the Bangus Industry. Forty hectares of the 700 hectare Mariculture Zone are presently being developed by the town into a Marine Park with bangus culture in fish cages as the major enterprise.

There are now 29 units (15 m by 20 m diameter) fish cages installed by various investors in the Marine Park which are all cultured with bangus in different levels of growth. Some investors are now harvesting bangus and still others are growing the same. San Jose through its young and progressive-minded political leader Mayor Lazaro Ballesta aims that by September they will be harvesting an average of 10 tons of bangus every week. The said local chief executive proudly predicts that his town will soon become the Bangus Capital of the country.

The town will in fact hold an Investor's Forum tomorrow to entice more investors to put in capital into the Bangus Industry. Participants in the forum will be given a tour in the Marine Park and its support facilities. They will also be given a lecture on the intricacies of investing and how much return such investment will generate in a certain period of time.

Support facilities in the Marine Park include bangus fingerlings ponds, fish feeds supply, fish cage fabrication and installation, fish cage mooring, mini ice plant, and refrigerated van. (PIA Northern Samar)