Mati City fish port secures full funding

MATI CITY, capital of Davao Oriental province, has secured the full P150-million fund needed to complete its fish port complex project, the mayor announced on Friday.

Mayor Michelle N. Rabat, in a statement, said another P2 billion has been approved under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a 2.25-kilometer coastal highway and access road to the port.

“The DPWH Regional Office will be in coordination with the City Mayor’s Office as to the final details, prioritization, location, and other logistical support for the realization of these mega projects,” Ms. Rabat said.

Construction of the five-hectare Mati City Fish Port complex started in June 2021 with an initial P75-million budget from the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority.

The remaining fund will also be released through the same agency. Ms. Rabat had earlier said in online interview with BusinessWorld that the city is projecting an annual fish catch of over 10,200 metric tons and more than 1,600 vessels that will utilize the port once completed.

“The fish port will greatly enhance the capability of the local government of Mati to preserve, protect, and develop the full potential of the Pujada Bay to greater management and balanced utilization in the long term,” she said.

The city government is also looking into the development of related sectors such as storage facilities, and value-added processing like cannery businesses.

Coconut has been the main agricultural commodity of Mati, as in the rest of Davao Oriental, but various diversification programs have been launched in recent years, including aquaculture and cacao.