A crucial hub for seafood distribution in Northern Luzon has received a major upgrade, marked by the recent completion and inspection of the modernized Philippine Fisheries Development Authority-Sual Fish Port (PFDA-SFP) in Pangasinan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. toured the upgraded site alongside Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and PFDA Acting General Manager Glen Pangapalan to inspect its new capabilities designed to reduce post-harvest losses and improve quality.
Located in Barangay Poblacion, Sual, the facility serves as a vital bridge connecting catches from the Lingayen Gulf, the West Philippine Sea, and the Ilocos coastline to markets across the region.
As a long-standing economic lifeline for local fisherfolk, processors, and traders, the port underwent significant overhauls to address aging infrastructure and meet growing demand.
Implemented by the Department of Agriculture through the PFDA, the modernization project features an expanded pier and trading hall, upgraded quayside facilities, and improved access roads to accommodate larger fishing vessels.
Crucially, the port now houses enhanced cold chain infrastructure, including:
- Cold storage: Four 50-metric-ton units providing a combined capacity of 200 metric tons.
- Processing capabilities: Blast freezers, chiller rooms, and flake ice plants capable of producing up to eight metric tons of finished seafood products daily.
These upgrades are expected to provide a major boost to Pangasinan—home to Dagupan City, the nation’s milkfish capital—by protecting post-harvest yields for bangus and other valuable marine species.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the strategic role of modern infrastructure in strengthening national food security:
“The rehabilitation of the Sual Fish Port is an investment in both our fishermen and our nation’s food security. 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.”
Echoing this vision, PFDA Acting General Manager Glen Pangapalan emphasized the long-term impact on local livelihoods:
“Seeing the Sual Fish Port fully rehabilitated is a milestone for PFDA. 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. That is what makes this investment truly meaningful.”