Lawmaker: Modern fish ports with cold storage can raise living standards in coastal towns

by EVMWB

Tacloban City, Leyte–Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales emphasized that modern fish ports with cold storage facilities play a crucial role in boosting income opportunities and improving living standards in coastal communities.

Lawmaker cites huge benefits of modern fish ports with cold storage facilities in improving living standards in coastal communities

“The development of modern fish ports with cold storage creates a ripple effect of economic opportunities. It strengthens the fisheries sector while opening doors for processing, logistics, and related industries,” Gonzales, a member of the House committee on aquaculture and fisheries, said in a statement.

Gonzales said these facilities are not only crucial for fisherfolk, but also for consumers who benefit from better access to fresh, high-quality seafood at more stable prices.

The lawmaker added that investments in modern fish port infrastructure also generate broader economic gains, including new jobs, expanded livelihood opportunities, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in coastal areas.

Gonzales and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan are authors of two bills seeking to establish state-run fish ports with cold storage plants in the coastal municipalities of Dolores and Oras in Eastern Samar.

Gonzales enumerated the key benefits of modern fish ports with cold storage:

. Job creation in coastal communities

Modern fish ports generate employment beyond fishing, including roles in ice production, cold storage operations, fish processing, transport, and port management services.

· Reduced post-harvest losses

Cold storage significantly minimizes fish spoilage in the country’s hot and humid climate, reducing waste and improving overall productivity in the fisheries sector.

· Better income for small-scale fisherfolk

With access to storage facilities, fisherfolk are no longer forced into “rush selling” and can wait for more favorable market prices, reducing dependence on middlemen.

· Reduced reliance on informal lending systems

Improved income stability helps fisherfolk become less dependent on high-interest informal loans, strengthening financial security in coastal households.

· Stabilized seafood prices in local markets

Cold storage helps balance supply during peak fishing seasons, preventing oversupply and contributing to more stable consumer prices.

· Growth of value-added seafood industries

Facilities enable the development of processed seafood products such as dried, smoked, frozen, and packaged goods, supporting SMEs and potential export ventures.

· Expanded market access and inter-island trade

Improved storage and logistics systems allow efficient transport of seafood from surplus coastal areas to high-demand markets such as Metro Manila and other urban centers.

· Strengthened disaster resilience

In a country frequently affected by typhoons, cold storage serves as a critical buffer, ensuring seafood supply continuity even when fishing operations are disrupted.

Gonzales stressed that modernizing fish port infrastructure is a long-term investment in food security, economic resilience, and inclusive growth for coastal communities.

DOE, DOJ must crack down on unjustified fuel price increases, says Libanan

Despite the deregulation of the oil industry, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) retain sufficient authority to investigate and act against unreasonable increases in petroleum prices, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said on Sunday.

“Under the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law of 1998, a DOE–DOJ Task Force was established with specific investigative and enforcement powers to address excessive and unjustified increases in petroleum product prices,” Libanan said.

“Through this task force, the two departments must take decisive and forceful action to safeguard consumers against potential pricing abuses, considering that we are now under a state of national energy emergency,” he added.

Libanan stressed that protecting consumers should remain a top priority amid highly volatile global oil markets.

“Consumer protection must be paramount. Filipino families should not be made to bear the burden of unjustified fuel price increases, especially when global oil prices are already easing,” Libanan said.

The ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, which began in late February, triggered a sharp surge in global oil prices, although recent ceasefire signals have introduced significant volatility.

After peaking at nearly $120 per barrel in March following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices have since declined to around $90 per barrel as of April 17.

Meanwhile, local oil industry players have faced mounting criticism over alleged overpricing, profiteering, and possible collusion to keep prices elevated.

Libanan, a lawyer by profession, pointed out that under Republic Act No. 8479, the DOE-DOJ Task Force functions as an investigative and quasi-enforcement body that:

· Conducts investigations into potential overpricing on its own initiative

· Receives and evaluates complaints on oil pricing and possible collusion

· Recommends or initiates legal action

· Supports enforcement

Section 14 (d) of the law reads as follows: “Any report from any person of an unreasonable rise in the prices of petroleum products shall be immediately acted upon. For this purpose, the creation of the DOE-DOJ Task Force is hereby mandated to determine within 30 days the merits of the report and initiate the necessary actions warranted under the circumstance; provided, that nothing herein shall prevent the said task force from investigating and/or filing the necessary complaint with the proper court or agency motu proprio.”