The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently awarded the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC), managed by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), with a certification of compliance with ISO-Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008).

This certification was pursued by the NFPC in observance of the Philippine Executive Order 605, directing all departments of the Executive Branch, including all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), to adhere to the ISO Standards on Quality Management System.

The ISO-certified management system of NFPC reinforced its policy which is to provide quality harbor and market operation services in order to deliver the highest customer satisfaction. The improvements done were focused on the harbor and market management system, but the entire administration and employees of the NFPC also adopted the new standards in order to ensure the project’s success.

NFPC’s Port Manager, ­­­Miguel Lamberte Jr., noted that these efforts are done to accomplish the Port’s objective in creating a positive and good working relationship with the customers through the satisfactory delivery of services in the harbor and market operations, and continually improve the quality management system based on their feedbacks.

The quality management system benefits not only the clients of the NFPC but also all of its employees as they are expected to gain from overall reliability and dependability of service delivery, better working systems and workplaces, better team work and communications amongst staff members, and positive changes in the attitude of employees. (Luz Ortiz, Betty Uy, and Thea Lacson)

The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority-constructed Bulan Municipal Fish Port (BMFP), located in Sorsogon Province, will be upgraded to a Regional Fish Port. The groundbreaking ceremony was held recently, through the initiative of the PFDA and the Local Government of Bulan, Sorsogon. A number of officials arrived and participated in the ceremony, including Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, Governor Robert Lee Rodrigueza, Mayor Romeo Gordola, DA Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona, PFDA General Manager Atty. Glen Pangapalan, and PFDA Assistant General Manager Atty. Loralie Datahan and Camaligan Fish Port Manager Carlos Hagosojos.

The Bulan Municipal Fish Port (BMFP) is located in the south-westernmost tip of Luzon Island, making it accessible to fishing boats and fish investors alike. It has a wide area of influence due to its strategic location, and is presently thriving with commerce coming from Northern Samar, Masbate, and Leyte.

One of the key improvements planned for this project is the expansion of its present lot area of 4,000 square meters. The Corporate Planning Division of the PFDA proposed an additional 11,000 square meters to the current lot area of the port, and designating the whole expanse of land as Phase 1 of the BFPC. There will also be a second phase, which is estimated to cover 13,000 square meters of land. Along with this expansion will come new facilities such as ice stalls, food stalls, banyera warehouse, a spacious parking area, and bigger market halls.

According to PFDA General Manager, Atty. Glen Pangapalan, this transformation is expected to attract more business opportunities and encourage more investors in the area.

Among the target beneficiaries of this project are the 78 existing locators operating inside the BMFP, and approximately 1,541 registered fishing vessels unloading at the port with an estimated labor force of 6,413 coming not only from Bulan but also from the neighboring towns. It will solve the problems of congestion in the landing quays, and the lack of space in the market hall. The fishers will have better chances of showcasing their products in the improved facilities. To top it all off, this project is anticipated to benefit the populace in the province of Sorsogon with the increase in employment opportunities and development of tourism in the vicinity. (Thea Lacson and Tess Francisco)

By virtue of PFDA Board Resolution No. 17004, FeedMix Specialist, Inc. (FSI), is expected to commence operation of the IFPC Fish Processing Plant anytime soon.

FSI is a 100% Filipino-owned integrated aquaculture company based in Pulilan, Bulacan. It operates its own hatchery, feed mill, grow-out facilities and fish processing plant. Said company has been in this line of business for twenty (20) years.

For its expansion program in Western Visayas, FSI decided to lease the newly installed IFPC Fish Processing Plant for the processing of local produce of fish farmers in the area, as well as to accommodate their internal aquaculture production.

The FSI operation at the IFPC will boost local aquaculture production of milkfish and shrimps, and will be a welcome intervention to the development of the fishery sector in the area. The economic activity would not only translate to additional job opportunities for the local populace, but also improve the entrepreneurial efforts of marginalized fisher folk. (Just Anaquita, IFPC)

The operation of the newly PFDA-constructed Balatan Municipal Fish Port (BMFP), located at Brgy. Siramag, Balatan, Camarines Sur, is expected to increase revenues of fishers; cultivate additional livelihood opportunities for traders, processors and fish handlers; and improve quality of fish and its network of distribution. The establishment of the fish port is in line with the PFDA's mandate of providing post-harvest infrastructure facilities to fishermen. It was inaugurated on February 09, 2017.

Prior to the construction of BMFP, unloading of fish catch was being undertaken in the various barangays in the municipality, with fishers coming from as far as Burias Island transporting their catch in Balatan due to the presence of numerous fish traders that offer relatively better prices for fresh fish. The port will benefit more poor fisherfolk living in the municipality as unloading activities will be centralized; more traders and “viajeros” will be attracted; investments in related services are anticipated to increase; and double handling of fish will be eliminated.

Balatan is a 4^th class municipality with 451 fishing vessels operating within the municipal waters of Ragay Gulf. Volume of fish unloadings is estimated at 10 MT per day, and daily demand for ice is about 9.53 MT. The port is projected to generate an annual income of PhP 2,698,036.00, mostly from berthing, unloading and transshipment fees. The facilities include: stairlanding, market hall, ice stalls, utilities (power, water, drainage/sewerage system and holding tank), guard house and administration bldg. (MTVF)

The PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex management, together with the Navotas City LGU and DSWD, immediately responded to give food and other relief items to the fire victims of Barangay North Bay Boulevard North in Navotas City. NFPC offered a temporary staging area inside the fish port after the fire was put out and provided “hot lugaw” for the victims’ breakfast. Stakeholders at NFPC also donated food and relief packages, while the PFDA Credit Cooperative donated Twenty Thousand in cash.

A fire, which left around 600 families homeless, hit a residential area in the said barangay early morning of January 9, 2017. The fire also engulfed Market 3 of the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) as it spread quickly. Most of the residents were not able to save their belongings and were left with no choice but to stay at the barangay covered court for shelter. Around 600 houses were reduced to ashes with property damage estimated at Three (3) Million Pesos.

According to NFPC Management, the NHA at present is in the process of identifying a site for the relocation of those left homeless. (Betty Uy)

The General Santos Fish Port Complex's ultimate goal in 2016 was to improve systems efficiency to achieve higher outputs while delivering quality service to port customers. GSFPC’s activities and transactions are varied --- from vessel entry, berthing, fish unloading, trading, etc. to payment of services or use of facilities. Most of all, they are manpower intensive given the large number of customers and volume of transactions.

Spearheaded by Port Manager Luisito Romeo M. Correa, GSFPC embarked on a full operations automation project to handle a wide range of tasks and help speed up processes. Transactions that were time-consuming or inconvenient were incorporated into systems and softwares were developed to complete a number of different tasks and automatically post results.

By the end of the year, developed by the Port’s Information Technology group, the Harbor & Market operations automation system was 100% installed at Assessment Stations of the Market Operations Division and Harbor Operations Division, as well as at the Collecting Stations of Finance Services Division-Cash Section. Likewise, a fully enhanced program for cash & charge transactions using Transaction Billing form was installed and utilized.

The automation for client accreditation was also 100% completed and deployed with support for cash collection and updates for Statistical Reporting. Permits and IDs can be claimed by customers in less than 10 minutes processing time. With the automated systems in place, GSFPC can retrieve transaction data in real time making consolidation for statistical figures more efficient and convenient. For GSFPC, process automation is simply the way of the future; the need for many tedious tasks eliminated, and human error reduced to its lowest possible point.(Fritzie V. Leviste)