Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. expressed his gratitude to the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for funding the rehabilitation and development of the Concepcion fish port in the Fifth District of Iloilo province.
“Dako ni nga bagay ang ginhatag sa aton sang Korea International Cooperation Agency that we are able to construct a port like this. Gusto naton nga it’s convenient to go to the mainland,” Defensor said in a press conference.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the P150-million Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development Project was held on Wednesday, March 16. It was attended by Defensor, Concepcion Mayor Raul Banias, and KOICA officials.
The project, conceptualized during the time of former Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., is part of KOICA’s assistance to the province following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).
Phase 1 of the project involves the construction of the administration building, fish market, 75-meter causeway, and rockwall revetment. It is expected to be completed by July 2024.
According to the project’s contractor, the first phase was at 25 percent, ahead of the five percent target completion as per their timeline.
Meanwhile, the provincial government will allot P100 million for the second phase of the project.
“Phase two will be extending the causeway and other facilities like the comfort room, the road network, the ice storage, and also we will rehabilitate the old fish port to be converted into a transport terminal,” Banias said.
The mayor expects that the project will “benefit not only the fishermen from Concepcion but also from the neighboring towns.”
It will also “further enhance the economic activity in the municipality, thus creating more livelihood for the people,” he added.Lucille Jan Golilao/IMT
Lucille Jan Golilao is an IMT NEWS intern. She is a 4th year journalism student at West Visayas State University in Iloilo City.
