Government Allots P200M to Upgrade Iloilo Fish Port

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala made the commitment during a ceremonial groundbreaking of a P105-million breakwater at IFPC, Barangay Tanza, Iloilo City, 16 November, 2012, with Senator Franklin Drilon as guest of honor and speaker.

Senator Drilon thanked Secretary Alcala and the DA through the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) for their assistance to complete the construction of a 600-meter breakwater along the eastern side of IFPC, where he shared P30M under his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Senator Drilon said the upgrading of the 21-hectare fish port complex and completion of the breakwater will transform Iloilo into a major fish trading hub next to Navotas.

Secretary Alcala has thus instructed the PFDA, which operates and manages the IFPC and other major fish ports in the country, to submit soonest a rehabilitation and upgrading work and financial plan.

He also asked PFDA general manager Eduardo Chu to coordinate closely with the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), fisherfolk groups, and Panay Fishing Boat Operators (PFBO) to craft a plan on how to make optimum use of the Iloilo fish port complex.

The DA chief said once the IFPC is upgraded it would attract more investors and locators, particularly fish processors, thus providing more income for fisherfolk and their families, and generating additional employment.

The IFPC has already an existing breakwater at its western side. The construction of another breakwater at the eastern side came about when Senator Drilon embarked on a project to clean up Iloilo River and clear it from fishing vessels that have been docking along its banks. The vessels were asked to dock instead at the IFPC, which needed another breakwater to ably protect them during the southwest monsoon season or habagat.