THE construction of a fish processing plant in Dagupan City is now definite with funding from the Korean government, through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Korean government and KOICA officials were in town this week to confirm that the U.S$2 million (about P86 million) grant for the project is due for release soon.

The visiting group, accompanied by fisheries experts from their country, also conducted an ocular inspection and preliminary survey of the proposed site in Bonuan Binloc, reviewed the seafood processing facility proposal, including information related to seafood demand, laws and policies concerning the project, and possible constraints.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and other key city officials welcomed the delegation composed of Kim In, KOICA resident representative; Park Joon-sung, deputy resident representative; and Hoo-Kyu Oh and Dong-Geon Lee, fishery experts from the Pukyong National University.

Fernandez said the fish processing plant as envisioned by previous administration to handle bangus mainly will create jobs, stimulate business activities and add value to bangus (milkfish), Dagupan’s main agriculture product.

The benefactors also met with Dr. Westly Rosario, executive director of the National Fisheries Research Institute and concurrently center chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center.

Rosario briefed them on aquaculture potentials in the city and other matters relating to the project.

The funding, a grant negotiated by House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., is a full donation and does not require repayment from the city. #