THE government is accelerating the expansion of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) Bulan Fish Port Complex in Sorsogon as part of a broader push to invest in fisheries infrastructure and strengthen the country’s marine food supply chain, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the project fast-tracked, with completion targeted by end-2027.Every year of delay means lost income for fishermen and missed investment opportunities for the region, Tiu Laurel noted.The expanded complex will include cold storage, blast freezers, flake ice facilities, smokehouses, fish-drying areas and an extended quayside to accommodate more fishing vessels.Local officials have also proposed allocating space for agricultural trading, which would broaden the facility into a regional agri-trading center.PFDA Acting General Manager Glen Pangapalan said the expansion reflects the government’s strategy of strengthening the entire fisheries value chain, calling it proof of the state’s commitment to infrastructure that directly benefits fishing communities.The upgraded complex will function as a modern fisheries and logistics hub that reduces postharvest losses, creates jobs and allows fisherfolk to earn more by preserving the quality and value of their catch, Pangapalan said.In 2025, the Bulan fish port served 1,236 clients, including fisherfolk, brokers, traders and vessel operators, with a total fish unloading volume of 23,780.50 metric tons — an average of 65.15 metric tons daily, rising to an estimated 81.87 metric tons per day during the peak fishing season from March to June.
