The two-phased PHP365.99 million integrated fishport project in Surigao, City is on track for completion next year, establishing the city as a fully integrated fisheries hub in Northern Mindanao.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., who inspected the project that forms part of the Surigao City Fish Port development, underscored the government’s push to modernize fisheries infrastructure, raise fisherfolk incomes, and strengthen food security in Northern Mindanao.
Secretary Tiu Laurel visited the ongoing projects located in Barangay Washington together with Acting General Manager Atty. Glen Pangapalan of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).
The first phase, amounting to PHP193.6 million, has already reached 56 percent completion as of March 31, exceeding the programmed progress. Covering 7,500 square meters, the development features slope protection, a 10-by-70-meter pier with mooring and fendering systems, and support facilities such as a market hall and administration building. The project remains on track for completion by October 2026.
Tiu Laurel said modern fish ports are critical to improving product quality and reducing post-harvest losses, long a challenge for coastal communities.
“Investments in proper handling, storage, and support facilities will strengthen the fisheries value chain and generate more economic opportunities,” he said, noting that better infrastructure directly benefits both producers and consumers.
Running parallel is Phase II of the Surigao City Fish Port expansion, a PHP172.39-million design-and-build project that will introduce refrigeration, ice-making, and cold storage systems to the complex. Implemented by the PFDA and funded under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, the second phase aims to transform the port into a fully integrated fisheries hub.
Phase II has reached 32 percent accomplishment to date, with key civil works currently underway. These include embankment and compaction, steel sheet pile driving, and perimeter wall construction, alongside the demolition of an existing refrigeration facility to make way for upgraded structures.
Once completed, Phase II will feature a refrigeration building, commercial spaces, a powerhouse, and electro-mechanical systems such as blast freezers, an ice plant, and backup power. Auxiliary systems will include fire protection, CCTV, and communications infrastructure.
Pangapalan said the twin projects are designed to work in tandem, with Phase I improving landing and trading capacity, and Phase II ensuring proper preservation and value-adding of fishery products.
“This is about building a complete ecosystem,” he said. “From unloading to storage and distribution, we are equipping our fisherfolk and traders with the tools they need to minimize losses and improve product quality.”
Together, the projects are expected to enhance supply chain efficiency, stabilize fish prices, and position Surigao City as a more competitive fisheries hub in Mindanao, supporting broader efforts to ensure a stable and sustainable food supply nationwide.
