November 28, 2006

Mobile ice plants to be installed on Philippine fishery communities

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will install 100 mobile ice plants in coastal communities nationwide in its pursuit to raise fishermen's incomes by 80 percent per catch.
           
The mobile ice plants were part of the DA-led mission to China last week headed by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap which resulted to a P9 billion Chinese investment deals in the country. 

With the storage facilities in place, Yap said small fishermen can increase their incomes from P50 per kilo to P80 to P90 and would no longer pass through middlemen who usually add extra cost to the consumers.

The installation of the ice plants is financed by the China National Construction and Agricultural Machinery Import and Export Corp. (CAMC). The group will also supply 10 refrigerated vans and the construction of one central ice plant.

Aside from the cold storage amenities, Yap said the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority is also preparing a three-phase package for the renovation, repair and rehabilitation and expansion of the Navotas Fishport Complex which would be financed via the balance of a US$100-million CAMC loan negotiated in 2000.
           
These deals, he said, are expected to be signed in December when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits the country for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.