ILOILO – Rehabilitation is underway for the P150-million fish port in Concepcion town eight years after it was battered by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
According to Mayor Raul Banias, the rehabilitation is being funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). It commenced last month through a grant-in-aid under the Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development Program.
Phase 1 includes the following:
* reclamation of a new fish port complex with total pavement area of 6,500 square meters;
* new wet market and causeway;
* new market hall; and
* an administrative building.
According to Banias, Phase 1 could be completed by the “late part of 2022.”
Once completed, the new fish port is expected to provide adequate, quality and safe berthing of fishing vessels and improve the access to basic fish port services.
The fish port is also envisioned to make more efficient the fishery trading operations in Concepcion.
“The area would be expanded and could accommodate traders and brokers. We expect that the fishery sector will be further developed,” said Banias.
Subsequently, a transport terminal would rise on Phase 2 of the rehabilitation, according to the mayor.
This would be funded by the Iloilo provincial government, Banias said.
The mayor thanked KOICA for its benevolence as the local government unit (LGU) did not shell out money for the rehabilitation, only the lot counterpart.
Once operational, the LGU would provide the fish port utilities such as power, water, sewerage, and drainage.
Apart from the rehabilitation, KOICA would provide training and capacity development to the fisherfolk.
In 2013, two weeks after Yolanda ravaged northern Iloilo on Nov. 8, high ranking officials of KOICA visited the ports in Concepcion, Carles and Estancia towns.
KOICA decided to fund the rehabilitation of the three ports, but due to the delay in the approval of the South Korean government, the Carles port had managed to start rehabilitation through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) while the Estancia port was funded by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority.
“A 6,500-square meter will be reclaimed for the new fish port facility. The causeway will be extended by about 200 meters so that during low tide, the fishing boats can still dock,” said Banias.
The new fish port facility would be bigger than the old one./PN