BULAN, Sorsogon (July 20, 2026)— Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) Acting General Manager Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan inspected the facilities of the PFDA-Bulan Fish Port Complex (BFPC), including the 60-metric ton (MT) Ice Plant and Ice Storage, on Monday, underscoring the Department of Agriculture’s broader effort to strengthen the country’s cold-chain network and protect the value of every fish landed.
The fish port served 1,236 clients in 2025, including fisherfolk, fish brokers, traders, and vessel operators who rely on its fish landing, trading, and post-harvest facilities. It recorded a total fish unloading volume of 23,780.50 MT in 2025, averaging 65.15 MT per day. During the peak fishing months of March to June, unloading activities increased to an estimated 81.87 MT per day, underscoring the importance of rehabilitated facilities in sustaining efficient fish handling, trading, and distribution operations.
The new ice plant can produce around 1,200 blocks weighing 50 kilograms each, every 24-hour production cycle. It also has storage capacity for 120 metric tons, equivalent to about 2,400 ice blocks, ensuring a stable supply during the peak tamban, or sardine, fishing season when landings surge. With this increased capacity, the facility is expected to boost the ice supply in the municipality of Bulan and help preserve larger volumes of fish for longer periods.
The expansion will feature a new trading hall, ice stalls, and a Materials Recovery Facility. Once completed, these facilities are expected to improve operational efficiency, sanitation, and the overall capacity of the fish port to better serve fisherfolk, fish traders, and other stakeholders. ### (Photos by Darrel Gultia, OSEC Comms)
