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The Department of Agriculture has earmarked P500 million for the expansion of the Port of Pantao
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The project aims to transform the port into an agricultural logistics hub to support farmers and fishers
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Funding is included in the 2026 national budget, with additional allocations planned for 2027 road development
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Planned upgrades include post-harvest facilities such as ice plants and cold storage
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Road access linking the port to the Maharlika Highway will be improved
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The port serves as a gateway linking Bicol to Masbate, Visayas, and Mindanao
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Pantao Port reopened in August 2024 after nearly two decades of closure due to typhoon damage
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Completion target for the project is early 2028
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P500 million to transform the Port of Pantao in Libon, Albay into a comprehensive agricultural logistics hub.
Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. made the announcement during a visit to Libon on March 13, where he distributed government assistance to farmers and fishers.
“We need a whole-of-government effort to unlock Pantao’s potential,” Tiu Laurel said in a press release. “Better road access and post-harvest facilities such as ice plants and cold storage will allow fishers to bring their catch to more markets and earn more.”
He said funding for the Pantao port expansion has already been secured under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, with additional allocations planned for 2027 to finance a farm-to-market road improving access to the port.
The agriculture chief said he will personally coordinate with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Vince Dizon to accelerate repairs on the existing road linking Pantao Port to the Maharlika Highway.
Beyond the DPWH, the DA will also engage the Department of Transportation and the Albay provincial government to manage the anticipated rise in cargo and passenger traffic as the port’s facilities are upgraded.
The Port of Pantao sits along Albay’s western coastline, serving as a maritime gateway connecting the Bicol Region to nearby island economies, including Masbate, as well as to the Visayas and Mindanao. Smaller than the ports of Legazpi and Tabaco, it provides an alternative route for cargo and passenger traffic bound for Southern Luzon and Metro Manila.
The roll-on/roll-off facility, owned by the Philippine Ports Authority and co-managed with the Albay provincial government, only resumed operations in August 2024, nearly two decades after Typhoon Milenyo knocked it out of service in 2006.
Local officials said that pairing upgraded road access with cold-chain infrastructure could position Pantao as a regional fisheries and agricultural logistics center while relieving pressure on other congested Bicol ports.
Tiu Laurel said he hopes the combined port expansion and road improvements will be completed by early 2028, setting the stage for broader economic development across Libon and Albay.
“This will really be a major advantage for Libon once we complete the port expansion, improve the road network, and install the ice plant and other facilities,” he said.
READ: DA, DOT partner to boost agri-tourism, logistics for producers
