PANGASINAN has joined the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines as a province for the first time to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) acquire a bigger market, especially in other countries.

Ten Pangasinan SMEs will be at the World Trade Center in Pasay City until Sunday, with food products such as deboned and processed bangus (milkfish) in various flavors, fish and chicken karage (deep-fried and marinated), natural sugarcane vinegar, processed organic herbs, processed catfish products, carabao dairy products and bagoong (fermented fish paste) products.

"These are well-chosen to give them the edge among the exhibitors at this expo," Pangasinan Provincial Administrator Melicio Patague II said in an interview over the weekend.

Among them are naturally fermented sugarcane vinegar products by Dimalupig & Gabrielle Food Products Manufacturing of Pozzorubio town.

Founder Glaiza Velasco said their raw materials are sourced from farmlands in their town.

"We are renting out a farmland to ensure sufficient supply of locally grown sugarcane, which we ferment for about two to three months until we get its desired acidity," she said.

Velasco said the business not only helped her finish her studies, but also the farmers in their village.

Although it is their first time to join the expo, Mama Cili Enterprises from Anda town has been supplying bottled processed milkfish in various flavors to various clients, including an airline.

"Our products are being served in business class and first-class cabins," owner Cecilia Natividad said.

It is also the first time for Bernal Bagoong from Lingayen town to expose its bagoong products at the expo despite its 63 years in the local market scene.

Daniel Bernal Sr., a fisherman from Barangay Pangapisan North in Lingayen, started the fish paste business in the 1940s.

Genieleen Bernal, granddaughter of Bernal Sr., said the business has since become the bread and butter of their family and the fisherfolk's families in their community.

They currently have 100 employees.

"We are very proud that our manufacturing plant is clean and well-maintained to ensure the quality of our products. We are very thankful to the provincial government of Pangasinan for the exposure of the products and the opportunity to meet potential investors," she said.

Bantog Samahang Nayon MultiPurpose Cooperative Chairman Rolly Mateo Sr. said they are excited with the opportunity to share their products to the international market.

"We hope we could increase our market reach as we are preparing for greater demands, with support and provision from different national government agencies and the local government units," he said.

Houyang Food Corp. of Dagupan City, makers of bangus and chicken karage, said the IFEX has boosted her products' marketability since they first joined in 2023.

Owner Evelyn Co said they use an "innovation" in processing milkfish, about 2 tons weekly.

They are also open for expansion outside of the country.