CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy has pledged ₱60 million as the city government's counterpart funding for the proposed transfer of the existing fish port in Barangay Bulua to a new site to accommodate more fish landings and ensure compliance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) waste management regulations.

Uy made the commitment during a courtesy visit by representatives of the World Bank and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-10 FishCoRe (Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency) team on Tuesday.

Also present during the meeting were officials of the City Agricultural Productivity Office (APOO) and the City Hall Technical Working Group (TWG) overseeing the proposed ₱381-million fish complex project in Barangay Bonbon.

The APOO is leading a review of the proposed fish complex to determine its compliance with existing environmental and social safeguards, as well as the site's capacity to become a sustainable and environmentally friendly fisheries hub.

Uy said his administration is committed to developing modern fisheries infrastructure, with plans for a fish landing center, processing plant, cold storage facility, ice plant, docking quay, pier, fuel depot, and administration building.

The proposed transfer stems from problems faced by the Cagayan de Oro Seafood Association and other stakeholders after they received a notice of violation from the DENR Regional Office 10.

Engr. Armen Cuenca, department manager of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), said Uy ordered the construction of a new fish port that complies with existing environmental laws.

He said the project is among the city's priority infrastructure projects to enable the affected fishing and seafood businesses to continue operating.

Cuenca added that Uy has also appealed to the DENR to temporarily suspend the implementation of the cease-and-desist order for one year to allow time for the construction of the new fish port.