Manga modern Fish Port to

Stabilize fish supply deficit

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan 6 (PIA)—Among the interventions that the Provincial Government is putting in to tame the largely wayward price of fish in local markets, a modern fish port equipped with the necessary support facilities to attract the landing of big-time commercial fishers is in the pipeline.

According to project development officer and Baratong Isda program focal person Clovis Llorente, Tagbilaran City is now facilitating the conversion of the traditional Manga Port to open up for the modern fish port complete with its own trading hall, administration office, fuel station, an ice plant, blast freezer, cold storage facilities, boat repair and servicing stations, ice and market stalls where fish dealers can display and trade.

The complex could also be improved to house fish processing.

A proposal from the Provincial Government has gained the green light of the BFAR, which is funding for the multi-million project aimed at increasing the local supply of fish available for local markets.

This year, building would start this year, according to Capitol sources.

It may be recalled that during the campaign, now Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has promised to work on bringing the exorbitant price of fish and make it affordable to the masses.

Studies have showed that the lack of fish supply reaching the markets, the devastating effects of typhoon Odette ruining fishing implements and the apparent control of a fish cartel to artificially dictate the price for local markets, has complicated the problem.

That, coupled with the unregulated entry of middlemen adding top-up costs in the trade, the capability of the tourist market to buy whatever is available at elevated prices has made fish, the region’s primary source of protein, way beyond the reach of ordinary workers.

To get into the problem, upon election, Aumentado firmed up Task Force Barato’ng Isda to study measures to make fish affordable.

Taking two-pronged approach to spear into the issue, TF Barato’ng Isda saw that increasing fish supply available in the markets would bring down the price as the supply is assured.

Reeling in the fish supply from the marginal fishers proved to be an issue that can be resolved by organizing these fisherfolks to be able to access help, a local buy-back program that assures fishers a ready market for their catch with the provincial government getting into play.

Despite 16 fisherfolks organized, Llorente said their produce would hardly cope up with the local demand, that the proposal to attract commercial fishers which would rather land in Cebu due to the unavailability of facilities to handle their bulk catch here, came out.

While the BRAF funded numerous fish landing facilities in coastal towns in Bohol, none of these could handle the landing of tons of fish, adds Bohol Fish Buy-back Program Coordinator Salvio Madanguit at the Kapihan sa PIA, Friday.

This modern fish port, he added, could be a game changer, as a bulk supply coming in can literally tilt the scales and emphatically even the playing field played by the fish cartel.

A commercial fishing boat bringing in some 6 tons of catch a day, can easily even up the supply, and spur small dealers into reviving an industry that has been choked by price dictates and supply manipulation. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

STABILIZING LOCAL SUPPLY. The traditional fish port in Manga District in Tagbilaran would open up to a modern fish port which could attract the landing of commercial fishing boats capable of bringing in tons of fish to stabilize local supply and tame local prices, announced Salvio Madanguit and Clovis Llorente. Both work at the Baratong Isda Program of the Provincial Government. (PIABohol)