Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday inspected the new 60-metric ton ice plant and ice storage facility at the Bulan Fish Port operated by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) in Sorsogon, and announced plans to expand the facility into a five-hectare agro-marine industrial port by 2028. (Photos from DA in Bicol )

LEGAZPI CITY — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday inspected the new 60-metric ton ice plant and ice storage facility at the Bulan Fish Port operated by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) in Sorsogon, and announced plans to expand the facility into a five-hectare agro-marine industrial port by 2028.

Laurel said the new ice plant would keep fish fresh for a longer period, reduce post-harvest losses, and help maintain the market value of the catch, particularly sardines and other pelagic fish landed at the port.

“Higher-quality fish for the market means more secure income for Bulan’s fishermen,” Laurel said.

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The new facility is expected to ensure a steady supply of ice for fish handling and transport, benefiting fisherfolk, fish traders, and other stakeholders in the fisheries sector, PFDA said.

Laurel also examined Bulan port operations, which were upgraded from a municipal fish port to a regional fish port in 2017.

Located on a 1.8-hectare reclaimed site in Bulan town, the complex serves as a major fisheries hub in the Bicol Region, particularly for the landing, trading, and distribution of tamban (sardines) and other pelagic fish species.

Lovella Guarin, information officer of the Department of Agriculture in Bicol, said Laurel committed to expand the existing 1.8-hectare fish port to five hectares by 2028, with at least P900 million allocated for the completion of Phases 1, 2, and 3, including the construction of fish drying and processing facilities and an additional ice plant.

Guarin said the fish port has been modernized with the construction of additional market halls, ice stalls, food stalls, a banyera warehouse, and expanded parking areas to accommodate the growing volume of fisheries activities./coa

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