The Philippines needs more ice plants and cold storage facilities to realize its potential as a major supplier of fish, almost half of which the country loses annually, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday. During the First Philippine Agriculture Trade and Investment Forum in a hotel in Manila, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the need for these facilities stemmed from the fact that 40 percent of the fish caught was already spoiled before it reached sellers. “The Philippine could be a major fish-producing country, but…we are losing 40 percent of our harvest because…we simply lack cold storage facilities…ice plants, and other post-harvest facilities to bring the fish to the market,” he added.

Gomez, E. J. (2018, May 25). DA: Cold facilities needed for PH to be top fish player. The Manila Times, p. B2.