February 28, 2008

Philippines develops seafood facility with US$2.2-million Korean grant

The Philippines will build its first seafood processing facility in the southern region of Dagupan City after a US$2.2-million grant was released by the Korean government.

The grant will be used to build a single-storey seafood processing plant measuring more than 1,700 square metres.

The joint project is geared to upgrade the production and trading of seafood products from Dagupan City such as bangus, vannamei, tilapia and catfish.

Officials said the seafood facility will follow stringent international standards on processing various marine species.  The ones who will mostly benefit from the project are small or backyard fish processors encouraged to export their goods.

Kim In, representative of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), signed the Record of Discussion (ROD) for the Korean government together with Dagupan City mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, representing the Philippine government.

The implementing agencies for the project are KOICA of the Korean government and DA-Bureau of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the locality of Dagupan.