THE Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) has downloaded to the Iloilo Provincial Government the first tranche of the US$3 million fund for the rehabilitation of the Concepcion fish port.

An amount of US$1 million was transferred to the province’s trust account on December 20, 2019 following the signing of the memorandum of agreement by koica, Iloilo Provincial Government, and Municipal Government of Concepcion.

The Provincial Government will undertake the procurement and construction. The project’s major components include site development, administration building, fish market, fish market public toilet, causeway, and rock wall revetment.

The municipal government will provide utilities such as power, water, sewerage, and drainage and will also bear the costs of resettlement of affected residents.

Concepcion Mayor Raul Banias said procurement will start as soon as the Provincial Engineering Office finished the backup computation. Construction is expected to commence in March 2020 and will be completed in one year and a half.

The Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development Project is an official development assistance (ODA) project funded by a grant from the Republic of Korea through Koica.

It aims to boost economic growth and improve the living conditions of fisherfolks by providing disaster resilient infrastructure facilities and promoting sustainable fishery development activities. (PR)