Fishermen in Tagkawayan, Quezon decry non-operational fish port

It was in 2015 when construction began on a fish port in Tagkawayan, Quezon started as part a Department of Agriculture (DA) project.

The project was finished in January 2016. However, the facility, which cost more than P13 million, is not yet operational.

According to a report by Investigative Documentaries, the management of the fish port was handed over to the municipality of Tagkawayan by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) in March 2016.

But, according to Tagkawayan Mayor Jose Jonas Frondoso, there is still no formal turn-over of the fish port to their local government.

"'Yung Phase 1 natapos ngayon, 'yung Phase 2 wala pa. According sa PFDA, may Phase 2 pa raw na hanggang ngayon hinihintay namin na dumating. Patuloy kaming nagfa-follow up," Frondoso said.

The PFDA, however, insists that the project is 100 percent finished.

Fisher folks decried that they could not use the fish port and that it lacks some of the facilities they need.

"Nanghinayang po, Ma'am... maganda po sana kung matuloy ito, malaking tulong po para sa amin," said fisherman Charlie Laude.

"Kung may mag-operate nito, eh di makakaano kami ng mga isda dito, di na kami pupunta sa mga palengke o kaya madadalan ng isda. Dito na ang bagsakan," added Tomas de Jesus.

"Eh katulad nito nakatiwangwang, anong kikitain ng tao? Eh di wala lang. Pasyalan na lang," said another fisherman.

Tagkawayan is a first-class municipality in Quezon province, therefore residents in the area are hoping that they can utilize their fish ports similar to those in other towns such as Lucena.

"Ang naririnig ko lang sa mga tao, may fish port tayo bakit hindi natin nagagamit. Atsaka concern din ako na bakit hindi 'yan nagagamit kasi panahon ko nang i-propose 'yan," said Hernan Jason, former municipal planning and development coordinator of Tagkawayan. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News