Cagayan PIO apologizes for ‘Aramang’ remark

BAGUIO CITY — The Cagayan Provincial Information Office (CPIO)-TeleRadyo has issued a public apology for an “insensitive” remark made in a social media post about the extreme heawt index in Aparri, Cagayan.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, the CPIO warned residents about the high heat index and captioned it with a joke that people would “mag-amoy (smell of) aramang,” referring to the distinct smell of fermented or dried shrimp paste known locally as aramang or alamang.

“The caption, which referenced ‘mag-amoy aramang,’ was just an attempt at humor, but was insensitive and disrespectful to the hardworking fishermen and families whose livelihoods depend on the aramang industry,” the office said in a statement.

The CPIO emphasized that aramang is not just a food product but an integral part of the rich culture and economy of Aparri.

“Our words unintentionally mocked that heritage, and for that, we are truly sorry,” the statement continued.

The office promised to exercise greater thoughtfulness and cultural sensitivity in its future public communications.