Most fish ports nationwide have recorded high weekly unloading despite the bad weather in several areas in the Philippines and strict lockdown measures being implemented everywhere.

During the August 16 to 22, 2021 period, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority’s (PFDA) Regional Fish Ports (RFPs) surpassed their total weekly fish unloading record for two straight weeks and managed to reclaim its regular 10,000 volume mark.

Based on a two-week comparative report accumulated by the Operations Services Department (OSD), PFDA RFPs delivered 10,910.39 metric tons (MT) of fish to all clients and stakeholders which is equivalent to a 28.60-percent increase.

“This noteworthy record was achieved despite stringent quarantine protocols and scattered cloudbursts due to southwest monsoon across the country,” PFDA said.

According to the report, PFDA – General Santos Fish Port (PFDA-GSFPC) contributed to more than half of this week’s volume. Maintaining a positive streak, PFDA-GSFPC unloaded a total of 6,233.06 MT of fish, or a 66.35-percent increase.

In addition, PFDA – Bulan Fish Port Complex almost quadrupled its weekly fish unloading volume after recording 570.87 MT, or equal to a whopping 265.54-percent increase.

On the other hand, PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex experienced a slight dip during this period, but it managed to unload 3,043.42 MT of fish amidst the ongoing Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and moderate to heavy afternoon rains. As it resumed operations, PFDA – Sual Fish Port delivered a significant volume of 118.89 MT.

Meanwhile, despite the reimplementation and extension of General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in the city, PFDA – Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (PFDA-ZFPC) has recorded its highest fish unloading volume for the year 2021 this month of August.

According to the agency’s Modified Integrated Corporate Reporting System (MICRS), PFDA-ZFPC delivered 933.07 MT of fish, equivalent to a 12.77 percent increase compared to the unloaded fish from the previous month.

Aside from being the highest volume of the year, this month’s log is also the port’s highest unloading record since February 2019.

Based on the data, big-eyed scad, popularly known as matambaka, significantly outranked all the other fish species in terms of volume.

“PFDA-ZFPC stands as one of the sturdiest economic pillars in Mindanao despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the fish port will continue to work round-the-clock to maintain a high volume of quality and affordable fish supply to all its clients and stakeholders in the months to come,” PFDA said in a separate statement.