PH fisheries body OKs P1.6-B fish port expansion program 

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) approved P1.6 billion worth of infrastructure projects to modernize key fisheries facilities and help improve food security.

Among the projects approved under the program are upgrades to the Navotas Fish Port Complex and the construction of a modern fish port in San Vicente, Palawan.

The PFDA Board greenlit several infrastructure projects, including upgrades to the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC)—specifically the Phase III rehabilitation of Market Halls 1 and 2, and Phase II of its Shipyard Development Project—alongside the construction of a brand-new, modern fish port in San Vicente, Palawan.

“Millions more from Metro Manila alone benefit from the reliable supply of fresh fish from this 50-year-old fish port,” said PFDA Acting General Manager Glen Pangapalan.

The PFDA-NFPC Phase II project is due for completion in December, while Phase III is scheduled for June next year. The San Vicente port project, meanwhile, is set to be completed in 2028, the DA said.

Further, the DA-PFDA seeks to make the Navotas complex a future trading hub for other agricultural products.

"We already have the buyers here. If producers from places like Lubang can bring their products directly to Navotas instead of passing through other trading centers, we can shorten the supply chain, reduce logistics costs, and improve returns for producers,” said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Meanwhile, the San Vicente Modern Fish Port is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Palawan.

“PFDA estimates that the facility will directly benefit more than 2,000 individuals and indirectly benefit over 20,000 people across the fisheries value chain. A significant number of the beneficiaries are municipal fisherfolk operating in the West Philippine Sea, particularly those from northern and western Palawan whose livelihoods depend heavily on fishing activities in the area,” the DA said. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA News