Sorsogon 2nd District Representative Hon. Manuel “Wowo” L. Fortes, Jr., Mayor of Bulan, Sorsogon, Hon. Romeo A. Gordola, and Mr. Ian Joel Guran, Officer-in-Charge of the Bulan Municipal Tourism, Culture, and the Arts Office paid a visit to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) Central Office to discuss the plans for the expansion and improvement of the PFDA – Bulan Fish Port Complex (PFDA-BFPC), on June 25, 2024.
PFDA Acting General Manager Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan, Assistant General Manager Ms. Iris R. De Vera, PFDA-BFPC Port Manager Mr. Francisco Romeo G. Escandor, Jr., and other PFDA officials welcomed the visiting team from Sorsogon.
As part of the PFDA 2023-2028 Multi-Year Plan, this expansion project could address trading and transport bottlenecks, attract more fish traders, and provide logistics support to fishery and agriculture products.
The master development plan for the improved PFDA-BFPC includes constructing various components, such as causeway, trading hall, ice stall, wastewater treatment plant, and solid waste transfer station.
Additionally, various auxiliary facilities, such as a food court area, commercial building, public toilet, and guard house, are also part of the project’s construction phases.
Moreover, the establishment of a revitalized PFDA-BFPC could potentially provide benefits to the residents and community of Bulan and surrounding areas, including:
- Ensure food security and accessibility to affordable and nutritious food;
- Increase in revenue through business and real property taxes and fees from permits and licenses;
- Create jobs for residents during the construction and port operation;
- Diversify the economy by attracting new businesses in the fishery sector, which may reduce dependence on a single industry and increase economic resilience; and
- Improve fishery product quality and decrease post-harvest losses.
In addition, the PFDA officials also presented the current progress of the construction of a 60-metric-ton Bulan Ice Plant and Ice Storage inside the PFDA-BFPC grounds.
As of May 2024, the Bulan ice plant project has a 32.36% completion rate.
(Public Information Division)