ILOILO CITY — A fish port rehabilitated and funded by South Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), opened in Concepcion town, Iloilo province on Tuesday, September 24.
KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsab (right) and Iloilo Gov. Arthur 'Toto' Defensor inaugurate Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development project (NI-FRDP) in Concepcion town, Iloilo province on September 24. (Iloilo Capitol PIO)
KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsab and Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor led the inauguration of the Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development Project (NI-FRDP).
The event was part of the 75th anniversary celebration of South Korea's diplomatic ties with the Philippines as well as the 30th anniversary of KOICA presence in the Philippines.
“This is an occasion to intensify our assistance to the Philippines,” said Kim.
The fish port badly damaged during super typhoon "Yolanda"(Haiyan) in 2013 was rehabilitated as a resilient infrastructure.
The fish port has elevated platform, improved drainage, a wider parking area, and brighter, energy-efficient lighting.
The redevelopment of the fish port is expected to spur economic growth by improving the livelihood of fishing communities by promoting sustainable fishery development activities.
Defensor reiterated the need to sustain effective marine resource management of the Visayan Sea, one of the country’s richest fishing grounds.
“There can be no fish port without the fish,” Defensor added.
Also present during the inauguration were Concepcion Mayor Millard Villanueva and Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who was town mayor when the project started.