APALIT -- Local officials, together with executives of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), led the groundbreaking ceremony for the first community fish center in Sulipan village here.
The P2.5-million facility will rise at a 500-square meter lot below the New Sulipan Bridge in this town, which is owned by the local government.
Mayor Peter Nucom said the construction of the fish port is funded under the bottoms-up budgeting (BUB) program where 80 percent of the town's total appropriations will come from the National Government and the remaining 20 percent will be the local government’s counterpart.
He added that the construction will take about four months and is expected to be finished by September of this year.
When asked how the facility will become beneficial to the fishermen, Nucom said the fish landing center will boost the commerce of the fishery sector not only in Apalit but also in nearby towns of Calumpit and Masantol.
He added that the post-harvest facility will also become a venue for fishermen to deliver and market their harvest at any time of the day.
“Sa panahon ng tag-ulan at pagbaha, dumarami ‘yung huli ng mga mangingisda namin. Kung minsan, hindi na nila alam saan dadalhin. Napipilitan silang ibagsak ang presyo o kaya minsan nabubulok nalang. Pero dahil may fish landing center na tayo, hindi na nila poproblemahin saan nila ibebenta dahil pagdating dito, kung minsan may nag-aabang na na bibili (During rainy and flooding season, our fishermen are able to catch massive fish. At times they don't know where to deliver this and they are forced to drop the price or leave it to rot. But since we now have a fish landing, they will no longer worry where to sell these),” he said.
Nucom stressed that the fish landing center will also attract more investors and serve as a direct market of fresh seafood for a lower selling price compared to public markets.
He added that fish port will serve as an economic and social hub for local farmers since it can also be used as training and meeting place, aside from an unloading site of their harvest.
Provincial Fisher coordinator Lanie Lamyong said the fish port is just the fourth to be constructed in the province next to those in the towns of Minalin, Sto. Tomas and Lubao.
She added that their agency is eyeing the construction of two more fish ports in the province, one in Minalin and another one in Candaba, this year.