Provision of Locally-based Fishery Infrastructure: The Philippine Experience

Abstract

The paper discusses experiences of the government through the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) in the provision and operation of locally-based municipal fish ports and ice plants to support the fishing industry. Of the 190 fish ports constructed and/or improved by the PFDA, only 4 are presently managed by PFDA and the rest have been turned over for management by the local governments concerned. In addition, the PFDA is administering a total of 25 operational ice plants, of which 11 are leased to the private sector. At present, only 50-60% of the facilities are being used by fishermen, while the rest are not used at all. Reasons for the under-or non-utilization of the facilities were discussed in the paper. The PFDA finds it difficult of financially sustain the operations of the projects, especially the small ones, due to the low level of fees being charged. Financial viability of ice plant operation is affected by the old age of the plants and the very limited market for ice. Relative to the objectives of the workshop, the following recommendations are proposed: (a) Only fishing communities capable of catching at least on (1) ton of fish daily should be provided with fishery support facilities. (b) The facilities should be managed and maintained by fishermen s cooperative. (c) The construction of horizontal work , such as stairlanding and site development, should be shouldered by the government as a subsidy to the fishermen s cooperatives. The construction of plants and buildings should be shouldered by the cooperative.