Philippines Upgrades Sual Fish Port to Boost Fisheries Distribution, Reduce Losses

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) has completed the upgrade of the Sual Fish Port in Pangasinan, aiming to enhance fish distribution and reduce losses. According to the PFDA, these improvements "strengthen the fisheries cold chain by allowing fish to be handled, preserved, processed, and transported under better conditions, helping maintain product quality while reducing spoilage and post-harvest losses." The upgraded port can now accommodate larger vessels and speed up seafood deliveries from landing sites to markets. It is equipped with 200 metric tons of cold storage, blast freezers, chiller rooms, flake ice machines, and fish processing facilities. The facility has a daily processing capacity of up to 8 metric tons and includes a wastewater treatment plant and a solar power system. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the project would strengthen the food supply chain, cut losses, and improve fisherfolk livelihoods. "By providing better post-harvest facilities, cold chain infrastructure, and more efficient trading systems, we reduce losses, preserve the quality of our catch, improve incomes for our fisherfolk, and ensure that more affordable and nutritious fish reach Filipino families," he said. PFDA Acting General Manager Glen Pangapalan expressed optimism that the upgraded port will create more opportunities for fishing communities. "This facility will serve fishing communities for many years, providing them with better services, modern post-harvest facilities, and greater opportunities to grow their livelihoods," he said. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed Pangasinan produced 172,090 metric tons of fish in 2025, accounting for 4.3 percent of the national output. /pai INQ