Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) and Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) have signed a deal for a 15.62-hectares reclamation project that would be part of the development and rehabilitation of Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC), the largest fish port in Southeast Asia.
Based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), PFDA and PRA will work together for the reclamation and land development of NFPC. The deal was signed by PFDA General Manager Glen A. Pangapalan and PRA General Manager and CEO Janilo E. Rubiato.
PFDA said the 15.62-hectare reclamation project is a major component for the rehabilitation and improvement of NFPC.
Included in the MoU are the mandatory requirements to be submitted by PFDA to PRA. These prerequisites will undergo review and evaluation before the reclamation project takes place.
“More port clients and stakeholders are expected to have better access to facilities and establishments once the land development project in PFDA-NFPC is completed,” PFDA said in a statement.
Meanwhile, despite the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR), NFPC continues to deliver adequate and high-quality fishery products to its consumers in the Metro and several areas in Central and South Luzon.
According to the PFDA’s Modified Integrated Corporate Reporting System (MICRS), during the August 6 to 12, 2021 period, NFPC managed to unload 2,938.07 metric tons (MT) of fish. This is a 20.48-percent increase compared to the previous week’s unloading volume before the strictest quarantine protocol was re-imposed in NCR.
Galunggong, bangus, tilapia, sardines, and shellfish are among the top five common species with the highest availability record during the said unloading period.
With ECQ still in place until August 20, NFPC sait it will continue to provide adequate fishery products readily available in the market at very reasonable prices.
“PFDA-NFPC encourages all port clients and stakeholders to practice IATF safety protocols, including social distancing, hand washing, and the use of face masks and face shields when entering the fish port to avoid the spread of the virus,” PFDA further said.