ILOILO – The rehabilitation of the fish port in Concepcion town is seen to spur economic development in the municipality.
Mayor Raul Banias announced yesterday that the project would finally commence in March 2020 and completed in one year and a half.
The old fish port would be converted into a transport terminal while a new fish port facility would be constructed.
Once completed, the new fish port is expected to provide adequate, quality and safe berthing of fishing vessels and improve the access to basic fish port services.
The fish port is also envisioned to make more efficient the fishery trading operations in Concepcion.
The project had been on the drawing board since 2015 but thrice the bidding conducted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) – the agency tapped by project financier Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) – failed.
“A 6,500-square meter will be reclaimed for the new fish port facility. The causeway will be extended by about 200 meters so that during low tide, the fishing boats can still dock,” said Banias.
The new fish port facility would be bigger than the old one.
Banias said the Provincial Engineering Office is currently finalizing the project’s detailed engineering.
“It will have a very substantial economic impact. The Concepcion fish port is a very robust and active fish port,” he said.
KOICA is funding the rehabilitation project worth $3-million through grant-in-aid.
The fund would be transferred to the Iloilo provincial government in December.
The three bid failures by UNOPS made KOICA to decide to transfer the fund to the provincial government.
“The amount was approved four years ago yet,” said Banias.
On Tuesday, KOICA Country Director Song Min Hyeon paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to update the governor on the project.
“The country director assured us that on the first month of January, we will again request for additional fund,” said Banias. (With a report from LHC, Capitol News/PN)
