The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) is set to deploy 15 additional reefer vans as part of government efforts to boost the transportation of frozen fishery products in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
PFDA recently turned over 15 new DA ON THE GO (iOTG) reefer vans during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The iOTG is PFDA's flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, which aims to transport low-cost fresh-frozen fishery products to consumers.
PFDA is the government agency mandated to promote the development of the fishing industry in the country through the provision of post-harvest infrastructure facilities and essential services that improve efficiency in the handling and distribution of fish and fishery products.
The agency said the distribution of iOTG trucks is part of the agency's expansion project to extend the delivery of adequate fishery products nationwide through the agency's Regional Fish Ports (RFPs).
Aside from the reefer vans, the PFDA also acquired chest freezers, said PFDA Acting Assistant General Manager Iris De Vera.
"The main objective of the iOTG project is to distribute affordable fish in Metro Manila and other deficit areas and ensure sufficiency of fish supply in these areas. We are encouraging everyone to work as one in this effort to enhance the operations of iOTG," De Vera said.
Each insulated truck can carry a net weight of 1.6 tons of fish. These trucks are equipped with state-of-the-art devices, including a high-powered cooling system, emergency button, and reverse camera, among others.
From July 5 to 11, PFDA recorded its second-highest weekly fish unloading volume of the year after its RFPs unloaded as much as 13,366 metric tons (MT) of fish products. By far, this is the second 13,000-mark achieved by the RFPs since March of this year.
According to data from the agency, all fish ports managed to increase their unloading volume and reach the positive trend, with PFDA – General Santos Fish Port Complex (PFDA-GSFPC) and PFDA – Davao Fish Port Complex (PFDA-DFPC) being the top-performing fish ports for the week.
To be specific, PFDA-GSFPC recorded 6,557.62 MT of unloaded fish, which is equivalent to a 32.12 percent increase in volume, while PFDA-DFPC delivered 70.36 MT of fish or a 151.80 percent increase.
Meanwhile, PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex (PFDA-NFPC) maintained its positive unloading streak, registering 3,921.41 MT of fish for all its clients and stakeholders.