News Details

PBBM Pushes Construction of 10 Modern Fish Ports to Strengthen Food Security

NPO

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August 16, 2025

        AGRI-NEWS       

MANILA – House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Saturday hailed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s plan to build 10 state-of-the-art fish ports across the country, describing it as a vital step toward strengthening food security and uplifting the lives of fisherfolk.

“Matapang na naglalayag ang ating mga mangingisda upang sila ay may maiuwing mga yamang-dagat at mailako sa ating mga merkado. Ang kanilang tapang at tiyaga ay dapat mabigyan ng angkop na suporta mula sa pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng makabagong mga pasilidad (Our fishermen bravely go to sea to bring marine resources to the market. Their courage and perseverance must be supported with modern facilities by our government),” Romualdez said in a statement.

He commended the President for prioritizing the establishment of new fish ports equipped with advanced technologies, including cold storage facilities, instead of merely rehabilitating old ones.

“The President’s decision to establish modern cold storage facilities is a prudent investment that will significantly enhance our food supply chain, boost the income of our agriculture workers, and ensure their produce will reach our tables,” Romualdez said.

Marcos unveiled the initiative during the inauguration of the upgraded Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) Iloilo Fish Port Complex in Barangay Tanza-Baybay, Iloilo City on Wednesday. The President emphasized that the planned ports would benefit over two million Filipino fishermen and help the Philippines remain competitive with regional fisheries leaders such as Thailand and Vietnam.

The PHP885.14-million Iloilo Fish Port upgrade includes a 390-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic system with 1,152 solar panel modules, ensuring sustainable and reliable energy for operations. Romualdez lauded the integration of renewable energy into the facility, calling it a model for future fisheries infrastructure.

He assured that the 20th Congress would carefully deliberate proposed appropriations for the agri-fishery sector under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP). The PFDA has earmarked PHP2.1 billion in the 2026 NEP for the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Program, which covers the construction, rehabilitation, and modernization of fish ports nationwide.

— NPO News Team / PNA-PR