30-ton ice plant in Placer, Surigao Norte to boost tuna industry
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte -- In a bid to strengthen the tuna industry in the municipality of Placer in Surigao del Norte, the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Caraga held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 30-ton ice plant and ice storage facility on October 2 at Magsaysay, Placer, Surigao del Norte.
Funded under the PRDP Scale-Up, the ice plant and storage facility will address constraints in the postharvest of fresh tuna in the municipality, which currently gets the bulk of their supply from ice suppliers in the cities of Butuan and Surigao.
"The ice plant responds to a long-felt need of the fisherfolk here in Placer. This is a priority subproject for the municipality as we are a crucial loading center of tuna in the Caraga region," said Emerita Elajas, head of the Municipal Project Management and Implementation Unit (MPMIU).
The ice plant, amounting to P51 million in cost, will be capable of producing 240 blocks of ice per day, weighing 125 kilograms per block.
This influx of supply is seen to lower the costs of ice available to the municipality from P500 to P300.
"We cannot quantify our joy now that the subproject has started its construction,’ said Placer Mayor Jovymarie C. Villazon.
"The completion of this ice plant is crucial to increasing the income of our community." Mayor Villazon added.
A preconstruction conference with fisherfolk and fish brokers in Placer was conducted shortly after the groundbreaking.
Once completed, the ice plant and storage facility will benefit 16,455 individuals and 20 barangays in the said municipality. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
