-
The Department of Agriculture backs a proposed P2-billion deepwater port in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
-
Project aims to cut logistics costs, ease food inflation, and reduce farm-to-market losses
-
Port construction will be implemented by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority
-
Facility designed to handle large vessels and support interisland and export trade
-
The project is part of a planned network of at least 10 deepwater ports nationwide
-
Construction is expected to take about 24 months once approved
Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is backing the construction of a P2-billion deepwater port in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, positioning the project as a structural response to high food prices and persistent farm-to-market inefficiencies.
The proposed Abra de Ilog Deep Water Port, to be implemented by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), is designed to accommodate large vessels and enable more efficient movement of fish and agricultural products between Mindoro, Luzon, and export markets.
Tiu Laurel, in a news release, said the rationale behind the Mindoro project – similar to other deepwater port developments being planned by the PFDA – is straightforward: lower logistics costs ultimately translate to more affordable food.
Bulk shipping, he said, reduces costs across the supply chain, from farm inputs to finished products, making modern port infrastructure a key lever in addressing food inflation.
The agriculture chief said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to complete a chain of at least 10 deepwater ports nationwide to establish an integrated logistics network that will boost economic growth, attract investments, create jobs, cut production costs, stimulate interisland trade, and strengthen food security.
“Ports reduce costs, losses and delays, areas where food inflation often begins,” Tiu Laurel said, underscoring the port’s direct and measurable impact on household expenses.
Abra de Ilog currently serves as a maritime gateway through its roll-on/roll-off link to Batangas, but capacity constraints have limited its economic potential. The proposed deepwater port is expected to unlock growth by building on recent upgrades by the Philippine Ports Authority in the area, including port expansion, additional Ro-Ro ramps, breakwaters, and dredging works.
Construction is expected to take about 24 months once approved.
“The Abra de Ilog port is a targeted intervention to cut input and food costs by fixing logistics bottlenecks and building a more efficient gateway for agricultural trade,” Tiu Laurel said.
The project design includes a finger pier, a modern fish market, cold storage and ice plants, warehouses, wastewater treatment facilities, solar power systems, and reefer vans. These features are expected to reduce post-harvest losses and help ensure compliance with export-grade food safety standards.
From a trade and logistics perspective, the port could help reshape regional cargo flows. By easing congestion at Batangas port and shortening shipping times, Abra de Ilog could emerge as a cost-efficient transshipment hub for fish, meat, poultry, fruits, and vegetables, particularly as producers contend with thin margins and volatile fuel costs.
Construction is also expected to generate local employment, while long-term operations could attract logistics providers, processors, fuel suppliers, and tourism-related businesses. Fisherfolk and farmers, often burdened by spoilage and middlemen, are considered among the primary beneficiaries.
Aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the proposal reflects a policy shift that treats agriculture as both a logistics challenge and a production one.
READ: DA plans to build 202 cold storage facilities nationwide
