The Marcos administration maintained that it is on track in finishing some portions of the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) rehabilitation this year.

On Saturday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the fish port as part of efforts to modernize the country’s premier fish port and improve its resilience to frequent flooding.

At the inspection, President Marcos witnessed the unloading, hauling, and trading of fish products at Market 1 and toured the facility to assess its operations and ongoing improvement works.

Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) general manager Glen Pangapalan briefed the President on the operations of the fish port and the ongoing rehabilitation of Markets 1 and 2.

The President was also joined by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and Navotas local government officials.

He committed to ensuring the continued rehabilitation and improvement of the fish port complex to strengthen fisheries infrastructure, expand market access for fisherfolk, and reduce transportation and logistics costs.

The government, through the PFDA, is undertaking the rehabilitation and improvement of the NFPC to modernize the facility and strengthen its capacity to handle the growing volume of fish products and vessel operations.

The project covers the rehabilitation and construction of market halls, reinforced concrete wharves, drainage and sewerage facilities, reclamation works, a shipyard, backup areas, utility facilities, and other related port infrastructure.

Once completed, the rehabilitation is expected to provide safer, cleaner, more efficient, and climate-resilient facilities while improving the unloading, handling, and distribution of fish products, reducing transportation and logistics costs, preserving fish quality, and minimizing spoilage.

The project is also expected to create jobs and livelihood opportunities for residents of Navotas and nearby communities.

The construction of the 49-hectare Navotas fish port began in 1974 following a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. It was completed in 1977, officially opened in 1979, and has since become the country’s largest fish port and one of the biggest in Asia.