Korean gov’t OKs $2-M grant for Dagupan seafood plant

DAGUPAN CITY – The Korean government has approved a $2-million grant to build a seafood processing plant at the 2.1-hectare lot owned by the city government in Bonuan Binloc here.

Dr. Westly Rosario, interim executive director of the National Fisheries Research Development Institute and center chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), told The STAR yesterday that with the help of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., the project was approved in a meeting with the Korean International Cooperation Agency in Manila on Wednesday.

The meeting was also attended by Alvin Fernandez, Dagupan City Administrator and son of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

Rosario said the project, originally named  the bangus processing plant, will finally push through after three years of debate.

Quoting a resident representative of the funding agency, Rosario said “the project had been okayed at the topmost level” and only needs the final revised proposal from the city government.

As per De Venecia’s recommendation, the project will not only cater to the city’s main and popular product, bangus (milkfish), but also other seafoods like the white shrimp Pennaeus vannamei, saline tilapia and catfish.

He explained that if they concentrate on bangus alone, this would pose a problem because the city does not have enough bangus supply and it will not have much livelihood opportunity for the people.

The multi-species processing plant is expected to generate 600 jobs and it will be an added boost to the aquaculture industry here, especially to those into vannamei culture as they will now have a venue for processing that is at par with international standards.

The plant will be built adjacent to the sprawling 24-hectare BFAR center here.

Rosario clarified that the grant will be in the form of structures, equipment and other facilities and no funds will be handed over to them.