All set for construction of city’s fish port

THE Philippine Fishery Development Authority (PFDA) has given the green light to start the construction of the P44.3-million fish port complex in Tacloban City.

Justerie Granali, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional director, said the initial part of the project includes site development such as demolition, clearing and disposal of existing structures.

“The project has been bid out last July and actual construction of the fish port is expected to start this September. We learned that the City Government has already started demolishing homes of informal settlers in the project site,” Granali added.

Last month, some 30 families living in the proposed site in Barangay 37 were ordered by the City Government to vacate the area. However, they were offered a relocation site in Barangay 103-A (Pag-laum), some 10 kilometers away north from the city center.

“The new fish port will serve as an area for unloading and marketing of marine products both for local and foreign markets, harbor operations which include maintenance and repair of fishing vessels, and processing and refrigeration activities,” Granali said.

Based on the project description, the fish port complex will be located in a five-hectare area and will have landing, lay-by, multi-purpose wharves; port basins; navigational aids; fish market; refrigeration building; water and power supply system; fuel and oil supply system; maintenance shop building; net mending yard; commercial shop area; parking area; and administration building.

The construction of the fish port was deferred for about two years when the PFDA sought for a court clearance attesting the city’s legal ownership of the proposed site. The area to be developed also covered the city’s old bus terminal.

“Once the project will be completed, it will attract canning operations, fish mill plants, and possible investors in the tuna industry,” Granali said. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)