PHL seeks new funds after Japan backs out of fish ports project

The Philippine government is now in search of alternative funding for the P5-billion regional fish ports rehabilitation and development project after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) backed out of it. “We were informed a few days back that the Japanese government will not provide funding for the project. Their priority now is to rehabilitate their own fish ports that were destroyed during the March 11 tsunami," Philippine Fisheries Development Authority director Rodolfo T. Paz told reports in a briefing Friday. The PFDA is now looking at possible funding from either from Korea or China or from governments in Europe. Under the project, the PFDA was supposed to rehabilitate the regional ports of Davao, Iloilo, Camaligan, Lucena, and Sual, and build a new port in Bislig, Surigao del Sur. “Despite this blunder, JICA assured us that they will donate the feasibility study they made to the Philippine government. We just need to have the feasibility approved by Secretary Alcala for endorsement to the National Economic Development Authority," said Paz. A government-owned and -controlled controlled corporation under the Agriculture Department, PFDA manages and improves and builds fish ports. — VS, GMA News