The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (DA-PFDA) and the provincial government of Cebu are planning to construct a regional fish port (RFP) in the province.

In a statement Tuesday, PFDA acting general manager Glen Pangapalan said the plan was discussed in a meeting on July 6 between the agency and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Pangapalan said the proposal can help more fisherfolk in the region and further improve the economy of the province.

The project can help boost the production of commercial fisheries, municipal fisheries, and aquaculture in Cebu, he said.

They are pushing for the project to become one of the priority projects of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

For her part, Garcia expressed support for the project, noting that the port should be in a strategic place in Cebu that can be accessible to fishing vessels from neighboring provinces in Central Visayas like Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental.

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data for 2021, Cebu recorded the highest annual increase in the value of production in agriculture and fisheries in Central Visayas at 7.3 percent.

The province has proven to be the economic center in Central Visayas, making it a feasible location for a regional fish port. (PNA)