Department of Agriculture allots P283 million loans for fishery facilities

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is allotting P283 million in loans to establish facilities in the major fishing grounds in the country in a bid to reduce post-harvest losses in the sector.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the DA aims to stop the loss of about 40 percent of the country’s daily fish catch by establishing ice-making facilities in 91 fishing grounds nationwide by the end of the closed fishing season in March next year.

The establishment of the ice-making facilities will be funded by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council through the Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment (AFME) loan program amounting to P282.5 million.

An initial P180 million will be allocated for the first 18 facilities in the first quarter next year.

Among the biggest fishing grounds to be prioritized are Aparri and Sta. Ana in Cagayan, Masinloc in Zambales, Dingalan in Aurora, Infanta in Quezon, Estancia in Iloilo, Sagay and Sipalay in Negros Occidental, and Ubay in Bohol.

Also included are Pasil in Cebu, San Vicente and Mapanas in Northern Samar, Tarangnan in Western Samar, Borongan in Eastern Samar, Limasawa in Leyte, Panabo in Davao, Kalamansig and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat.