Priority status sought for Cebu regional fish port

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) will push for the construction of a regional fish port in Cebu as the second in the Visayas region.

Last week, the PFDA’s top management discussed with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia the plans for the possible construction of a regional fish port (RFP) in the province.

PFDA acting general manager Glen Pangapalan said this proposal can help more fisherfolk in the region and further improve the already robust economy of Cebu.

It can help boost the production of commercial fisheries, municipal fisheries, and aquaculture in the province.

The PFDA will lobby for the proposed project to become one of the priority projects of the administration of President Marcos.

In 2021, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed Cebu recorded the highest annual increase in the value of production in agriculture and fisheries in Central Visayas at 7.3 percent.

At end-2022, Cebu produced a total of 44,806.38 metric tons (MT) of fisheries products or 1.03 percent of the 4.34 million MT produced by the entire country for the period.

“With that, Cebu proves itself to be the economic center in Central Visayas, therefore making the province a feasible location for a regional fish port,” the PFDA said.

In expressing full support for the project, Garcia said the fish port should be in a strategic place in Cebu—accessible to fishing vessels from neighboring provinces in Central Visayas like Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental.

Both the PFDA and Cebu government are identifying the area for the RFP, which requires an estimated eight hectares.

Once approved and completed, this project will be the second RFP in the region after the Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC) in Iloilo City.

The IFPC is a major center of fish trading and marine products processing in Region VI.

At present, the country has eight RFPs. Apart from Iloilo, other existing RFPs are in Bulan in Sorsogon, Sual in Pangasinan, General Santos, Davao, Zamboanga, Lucena in Quezon Province and Navotas.