Eight hundred kilos of blue swimming crabs were consumed in just two hours at the eat-all-you-can event in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Saturday night, August 1, Mayor Matthew Malacon said on Sunday.
The event was a success as sales hit P240,000, with customers paying P300 per head to join the eat-all-you-can event, he said.
They have yet to get a complete report on the sales amount for the other dishes sold à la carte, he said.
He apologized to those who arrived after the crab supply ran out and promised to be more prepared for the huge influx next Saturday.
The eat-all-you-can Sabado nights will be held for the entire month of August to boost demand for the town’s blue crabs after the ban on their export to the United States.
The buying price of blue swimming crabs dropped from P320 a kilo to a low of P140 because of the oversupply, which is why alternative markets are needed to help affected fisherfolk, Malacon said.
Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said the Sabado Nights in EB Magalona will spark domestic tourism.
He will contact Terra Madre members and hopefully restaurants in Manila will support EB Magalona’s blue crab industry.
Department of Agriculture Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said the effort of EB Magalona to boost its blue crab sales is very commendable.
Barrogo said he will ask the EB Magalona officials to bring the blue crab eat-all-you-can activity to the organic festival to be held in Bacolod City in November.*
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