More small fish landing centers and cold storage facilities are being planned by the Department of Agriculture (DA) after the 252 lined up this year until 2016. Asis G. Perez, director of the DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ( BFAR), said the agency has a target of 500 of these post-harvest structures nationwide. “Connectivity or enabling the fishers to directly deal with the market is our priority. We have funds for these projects. The 252 landings are funded by the 2015 and 2016 budget,” said Mr. Perez during a news conference at last week’s Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum on Food Security and the Blue Economy.

Conserva, L. H. (2015, October 16-17). Half of Agri department's fish landing, cold storage projects due after 2016. BusinessWorld, p. S1/2.