Photo courtesy of the official Facebook page of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the Navotas Fish Port Complex on Saturday to check the progress of its rehabilitation, saying the modernization project is expected to improve fishery operations and strengthen the country’s food supply.
Marcos toured the facility with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel. In a social media post on Sunday, he said the upgraded port would provide a safer and more efficient trading environment while supporting the livelihoods of fishermen, traders, and others who rely on the fishing industry.
The President said the inspection was meant to ensure that improvements at the country’s largest fish port keep pace with the growing demands of the fisheries sector.
The visit had originally been scheduled for July 7 but was moved to Saturday for reasons that were not disclosed. Malacañang also did not open the activity to media coverage.
The rehabilitation forms part of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority’s modernization program approved in June. The agency allotted Php 1.6 billion for infrastructure upgrades in major fisheries facilities across the country.
At the Navotas Fish Port Complex, the third phase of the modernization program covers the rehabilitation of Market Halls 1 and 2, with completion targeted by December.
The authority is also undertaking the second phase of the shipyard development project, which seeks to ease congestion and improve support services for fishing vessels. The expansion is expected to be finished by June next year and will add nearly 25 hectares to the complex.
The 49-hectare Navotas Fish Port Complex serves at least 30,000 people daily, with beneficiaries increasing to around 50,000 during peak fishing season. Established in 1977, it remains the country’s largest fish trading hub and one of the biggest in Asia.