ILOILO CITY — The newly rehabilitated Philippine Fisheries Development Authority–Iloilo Fish Port Complex in Barangay Baybay Tanza is no longer just a landing site for the day's catch. It is being positioned as the city's next must‑visit tourism and culinary destination, a waterfront hub where travelers can eat seafood steps from the boats that brought it ashore. The pitch, carried in a May 15, 2026 InsiderPH feature, builds on the vision President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. articulated when he inaugurated the ₱885.1‑million facility in August 2025. The President confirmed the development plan includes restaurants and cooking areas—an idea he credited to Iloilo officials.
The upgraded complex benefits around 1,500 fisherfolk and features a modern cold storage facility powered by 1,152 solar panel modules generating 390 kilowatt‑peak. The solar‑powered system reduces production and storage costs while keeping the catch fresh for transport over long distances. "Pinapalapit natin sa market ang ating mga mangingisda," Marcos said during the inauguration. The port is expected to spur economic activity, generate new livelihood opportunities, and draw both local and international visitors eager to experience Iloilo's fishing culture firsthand.
A Seafood Wharf That Extends Iloilo's Gastronomic Map
Iloilo City Representative Julienne Baronda disclosed that TIEZA, DPWH, and PFDA are collaborating on an extension of the seafood wharf specifically for food tourism. The concept places the port within Iloilo's broader culinary identity, which already draws tourists for La Paz batchoy and pancit molo. The port complex now features a new market hall, refrigeration building, commercial building, administration building, and public toilets.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the project helps reduce fish prices in the city while opening a new visitor experience. The facility supports over 1,400 fishery industry players and serves as the only PFDA regional fish port in the Visayas, handling catch from Western Visayas and parts of Negros. Mercy Meer, a fish checker who has worked at the port since 2016, noted the transformation: previously, brokers set up their own kiosks; now the upgraded infrastructure provides a professional, organized environment for commerce.
A Model Port, A Provincial Tourism Strategy
The fish port aligns with Iloilo's broader tourism roadmap. Provincial Tourism Officer Aulynn Yue Sin envisions integrated tourism hubs at major ports—Estancia, Carles, and Concepcion—featuring information desks and food terminals where visitors savor fresh local dishes before island trips. The fish port adds a culinary anchor to that network, offering visitors an experience no restaurant can replicate: seafood selected at the source.
The solar‑powered cold storage ensures that even tourists who buy fish to take home receive product maintained at peak freshness. The facility's sustainability features—the photovoltaic system, reduced reliance on diesel generators—align with Iloilo's growing reputation as an ASEAN Clean Tourist City. For travelers seeking authentic Ilonggo flavors on a vibrant waterfront, the rehabilitated fish port is poised to become a destination in its own right.
