Section 119Sec./Art. 119

Infrastructure Support. - The Department in cooperation with concerned agencies shall:

(a) prepare and implement a nationwide plan for the development of municipal fishing ports and markets;

(b) prioritize the construction of farm-to-market roads linking the fisheries production sites, coastal landing points and other post-harvest facilities to major market and arterial roads/highways;

(c) identity community infrastructure facilities such as fish landing ports, ice plant and cold storage facilities in consultation with fishery cooperatives/associations and prepare plans and designs for their construction that would be consistent with international environmental impact;

(d) establish and maintain quality laboratories in major fish ports and prescribe the highest standards for the operation and maintenance of such post-harvest facilities;

(e) arrange and make representations with appropriate funding institutions to finance such facilities for the use of the fishery cooperatives/associations;

(f) develop and strengthen marketing facilities and promote cooperative marketing systems; and

(g) promote and strengthen local fisheries ship-building and repair industry.