The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) inaugurated a new fish port in Mati City this week as it promised an additional source of livelihood for residents in the capital of Davao Oriental.

According to the PFDA, Mati’s first fish port will serve as a postharvest facility to handle and distribute fish and fishery products in the city.

“Mati City is a very strategic location to build a fish port because it is located along the eastern seaboard and is a tuna highway. With this, there is a big potential for Mati City fish port to be a bigger fish port,” said Glen Pangapalan, PFDA acting general manager.

The fish port houses a market hall, harbor area, fish landing and “other necessary components of a postharvest facility.”While the main sources of livelihood in Mati are copra and coconut byproducts, residents also earn from fishing and tourism.

Pangapalan said the new fish port could improve economic trade and activity while boosting the city’s tourism.

The facility is expected to sustain the incomes of fishery-based households and enterprises.Apart from the Mati facility, PFDA also established fish ports in Navotas City, General Santos City, Davao City, Zamboanga, Iloilo City, Lucena City, Bulan in Sorsogon, Camaligan in Camarines Sur and Sual in Pangasinan. INQ