By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
As demand for seafood continues to rise, the modernization of major facilities that facilitate the handling, storage, and transportation of this commodity becomes paramount to ensure constant access to quality food for the masses.
This, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inspection of the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) on Saturday, as the port undergoes rehabilitation works to modernize its facilities and make it resilient to frequent flooding.
During the inspection, President Marcos Jr. witnessed the unloading, hauling, and trading of fish products at Market 1 and toured the facility to assess its operations and ongoing improvement works.
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) General Manager Glen Pangapalan briefed the President on the operations of the fish port and the ongoing rehabilitation of Markets 1 and 2.
With its close proximity to the waters of Manila Bay, as well as being situated in the CAMANAVA area (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela) that is known for being flood-prone especially during the rainy season, these improvements will ensure the unhampered operations of the seafood hub amid high tides and typhoons.
Among the provisions of the rehabilitation and modernization of the NFPC were reinforced concrete wharves, drainage and sewerage facilities, reclamation works, a shipyard, backup areas, utility facilities, and other related port infrastructure.
The NFPC serves as a major source of fish products for Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. Its operations have continued to expand in recent years, with fish unloading increasing from 196,580 metric tons in 2023 to 221,692 metric tons in 2025. Vessel arrivals also increased from 24,570 in 2023 to 26,128 in 2025.
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