THE volume of fish delivered in April totaled 60,256.88 metric tons (MT), representing the highest unloading volume for this year, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) reported.

The latest figure represents a 9.0-percent increase from the 55,277 MT of fish delivered in March and was also the highest volume recorded since the year started.

Among the regional fish ports in the country, the General Santos Fish Port Complex recorded the highest unloading with 28,027.19 MT of fish delivered, indicating a 4.17-percent increase from the previous month's 26,904.01 MT.

The Navotas Fish Port Complex, one of the largest fish ports in the country, also maintained its upward trend with 23,344.29 MT of fish delivered, higher by 10.82 percent from 21,064.79 MT.

The Bulan Fish Port Complex also sustained growth in its monthly unloading volume with 3,152.15 MT, a 30.1-percent jump from 2,422.95 MT recorded in March.

The Lucena Fish Port Complex also maintained a positive growth in fish deliveries with 2,030.36 MT of fish, higher by 20.31 percent from 1,687.55 MT.

The PFDA also reported that the Iloilo Fish Port Complex unloaded 2,570.82 MT of fish for a 12.39-percent increase from the previous month's 2,287.43 MT.

Fish ports in Mindanao, including Zamboanga Fish Port Complex and Davao Fish Port Complex, recorded 752.43 MT (12.63-percent increase) and 307.03 MT (41.77-percent increase) of fishery and non-fishery products, respectively, unloaded.

Likewise, the Sual Fish Port and the Camaligan Fish Port both showed recovery from their previous month's record, with 69.93 MT (185.43-percent increase) and 2.68 MT (68.9-percent increase) of fish delivered to their consumers, respectively.

Last month, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. backed the upgrading of over a dozen regional and subregional seaports into deepwater ports to reduce the costs of delivering food across the archipelago.

Tiu Laurel said that this will require around P30.1 billion in four years and will result in the subregional seaports accommodating fully laden Panamax vessels.

The agriculture chief also supports the PFDA's goal of using the regional ports as entry and exit points for agricultural items to reduce the cost of transporting farm and fishery products across the country.

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