Fish unloading across all Regional Fish Ports (RFP) of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) experienced a slight drop following the devastation of Tropical Storm Agaton in the southern regions of the country this April.
According to the agency’s Modified Integrated Corporate Reporting System (MICRS), all RFPs have unloaded an aggregate volume of 46,353.97 metric tons (MT) of fishery products. Data showed that the ports experienced a 22.73% dip this month after TS Agaton brought rough seas and intense winds in the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.
TS Agaton has severely affected the agriculture and fisheries sector in the country, but the agency continues to deliver an adequate supply of fish through all its RFPs nationwide.
Based on the report, the PFDA – Bulan Fish Port Complex (PFDA-BFPC) registered 2,262.435 MT of fish this April, a significant increase of 49.79%.
Moreover, the PFDA – Sual Fish Port (PFDA-SFP) and the PFDA – Camaligan Fish Port (PFDA-CFP) have both recorded a significant increase in their monthly volume. The ports delivered 66.15 MT (30.71%) and 6.50 MT (18.79% increase), respectively.
On the other hand, the PFDA – General Santos Fish Port Complex (PFDA-GSFPC) experienced a slight dip in its monthly unloading. Despite the decline, the port remained resilient amid the devastation of TS Agaton and distributed 22,086.43 MT of fish.
In addition, the PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex (PFDA-NFPC) also plunged this April, but still managed to deliver 16,900.64 MT of fishery products to all its clients and stakeholders.
Some of the ports that suffered a decline but still managed to supply their consumers with quality and pocket-friendly fish were the PFDA - Lucena Fish Port Complex (PFDA-LFPC) with 1,799.82 MT and the PFDA - Iloilo Fish Port Complex (PFDA-IFPC) with 1,761.83 MT.
The PFDA - Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (PFDA-ZFPC) and the PFDA - Davao Fish Port Complex (PFDA-DFPC) have also recorded a decline this April. Nevertheless, these Mindanao ports managed to deliver 883.33 MT and 586.837 MT of fish, respectively.
Amidst the damaging effects of the recent tropical storm, the agency’s isDA ON THE GO (iOTG) Project continues to provide affordable fishery products to its consumers in Metro Manila and various parts of Luzon.
According to a report from the PFDA – Operations Services Department (PFDA-OSD), the iOTG project sold 1.5 MT of low-cost fish and fishery products in April. Further, a total of 140.34 MT iOTG products sold since the pandemic started last March 2020.
(Mark Angelo N. Perez – Public Information Division)