By Perla Lena/ PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to fund the construction of the PHP300-million breakwater in the new San Jose de Buenavista Fish Port this year.
Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao said in an interview Wednesday the breakwater is an important project for it could now enable barges even from Cuyo and Palawan that come to trade in San Jose de Buenavista to dock at the port.
“I am so happy to know about this development,” Cadiao said.
“The current docking area at the port needed to be extended so that the barges and fishing boats would be able to dock,” she said.
The PHP300-million fund would then be able to extend the port docking area further to the deeper part of the shoreline to enable sea vessels to dock.
“For Antique to really develop, we need to improve our port facilities as well as the airport,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, Antique Provincial Information Officer Galileo Magbanua said that the funding has been included in the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) through the initiative of Senator Loren Legarda.
“Once the GAA will be signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte it will be implemented,” he said.
He said that for now he could not give the length of the breakwater with the given funding for it will be implemented by the DOTr.
It could also be recalled that last October 2018 the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) turned over to the local government of San Jose de Buenavista the new fish port worth PHP40 million.
Custodio Balawin, officer-in-charge of the Iloilo Fish Port Complex who represented PFDA General Manager Glen A. Pangapalan, said then during the turn-over ceremony that the fish port is part of the post-harvest facilities being provided in order to improve the livelihood of the fisherfolk and promote the fishing industry.
He also said that the new fish port will enable fishermen from as far as Cuyo, Palawan to come to Antique and trade with locals.
