Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday announced that the newly-modernized fish hub in Pangasinan is expected to significantly advance the fisheries sector in northern Luzon. This development follows the inspection of the upgraded Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) Sual Fish Port at Barangay Poblacion, Sual, Pangasinan by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
According to Philippines News Agency, the agriculture chief emphasized that the newly-rehabilitated fish port will play a crucial role in strengthening the country's food supply chain while enhancing profitability for Filipino fishers. He stated, "The rehabilitation of the Sual Fish Port is an investment in both our fishermen and our nation's food security."
The upgrades include a widened and extended pier with a trading hall, four 50-metric ton (MT) cold storage units with a combined capacity of 200 MT, blast freezers, chiller rooms, and flake ice-making facilities. Additionally, the facility boasts fish processing areas capable of handling up to eight MT of finished products per day. Other enhancements include a wastewater treatment plant, a 90-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system, commercial spaces, and improved roads and utilities. The old pier, access roads, and quayside have also been rehabilitated to improve vessel operations and handling of fishery cargoes.
Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the benefits of these upgrades, stating, "By providing better post-harvest facilities, cold chain infrastructure, and more efficient trading systems, we reduce losses, preserve the quality of our catch, improve incomes for our fisherfolk, and ensure that more affordable and nutritious fish reach Filipino families."
Acting PFDA General Manager Glen Pangapalan expressed the significance of the completed rehabilitation, noting, "Seeing the Sual Fish Port fully rehabilitated is a milestone for PFDA. This facility will serve fishing communities for many years, providing them with better services, modern post-harvest facilities, and greater opportunities to grow their livelihoods. That is what makes this investment truly meaningful."
The upgraded facility aims to enhance the fisheries cold chain through improved handling, preservation, processing, and transportation. Its expanded capability will also accommodate larger fishing and transport vessels, facilitating better market trade and reducing post-harvest losses while sustaining higher product quality.
Overall, the port is set to operate as the PFDA's principal fisheries facility in Northern Luzon, linking fish landed from the Lingayen Gulf, the West Philippine Sea, and the Ilocos coast to major trading centers across Pangasinan and neighboring provinces.
