WB experts endorse CDO fish port hub

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — World Bank experts and officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-10 and the City Agricultural Productivity Operations Office met with Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy on Thursday to present a proposed fish terminal complex that would relocate the city’s existing fish port from Barangay Bulua to Barangay Bonbon.

Also present at the meeting were City Councilor Juancho Pascual, City Agriculturist Engr. Bernie A. Daba Jr., representatives of the FishCoRe National Project Management Office and Region 10 FishCoRe Unit, and members of the Cagayan de Oro Seafood Wholesalers Association.

The proposed complex is expected to strengthen the city’s fisheries sector by improving market access for local fisherfolk and expanding fish-landing capacity.

The city government has pledged P60 million in counterpart funding to relocate the existing fish port, which officials said would also help ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

City body holds review

The proposed P381-million project, funded through the World Bank, is undergoing review by the City Agricultural Productivity Office to assess its compliance with environmental and social safeguards and its potential to serve as a sustainable fisheries hub.

If realized, the complex will include a fish landing center, fish processing plant, cold storage facility, ice plant, docking quay, pier, fuel depot and administration building.

The relocation was proposed after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources raised environmental compliance issues regarding the existing fish port in Barangay Bulua.

City officials said the new facility is among Cagayan de Oro’s priority infrastructure projects and is expected to support local fishing and seafood businesses while promoting environmentally responsible fisheries development.