P100-M seafood plant still idle

DAGUPAN CITY—Almost two years after its inauguration in 2010, the P100-million seafood processing plant in Barangay Bonuan Binloc here has yet to operate full blast, raising fears that the facility may turn into another white elephant, or a useless structure.

The processing complex, built inside the compound of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) here through a grant from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica), was inaugurated on Nov. 29, 2010.

“What is disappointing is that until now, the processing plant is still not processing [seafood],” said Mayor Benjamin Lim.

The facility consists of packing, heating and smoking equipment, quick-freeze and ice-making facilities, air showers, sterilizers and other sanitary equipment.

Last year, its operation was interrupted by a tug-of-war between the city government and the NIFTDC, which both claimed to own the facility.

In March, Asis Perez, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director, formed a management committee for the facility, consisting of representatives from the city government and the BFAR.

The committee was supposed to be an offshoot of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to be signed between the city government and the BFAR.

“Until now, the MOA promised by Director Perez is still not here,” Lim said. “The processing plant should already start operating and the MOA should now be signed.”

Lim said the delay in the plant’s operation means a lot of lost opportunities for the city.

“If it’s already processing seafood now, then I’m sure, it’s not only Dagupan bangus (milkfish) that it is processing there. Even products from western Pangasinan or even the Ilocos will be brought here for processing,” he said. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon