Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is backing the construction of a deepwater port in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, citing its potential to lower food prices by addressing long-standing logistics and farm-to-market bottlenecks.
The proposed P2 billion Abra de Ilog Deep Water Port, to be implemented by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, will accommodate large vessels and improve the transport of fish and agricultural products between Mindoro, Luzon and export markets.
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Tiu Laurel said cheaper logistics directly translate to more affordable food. He noted that bulk shipping reduces costs across the supply chain—from farm inputs to final products—making modern port infrastructure a key factor in easing food inflation.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to complete a network of at least 10 deepwater ports nationwide to strengthen logistics and food security.
“Ports reduce costs, losses and delays—areas where food inflation often begins,” Tiu Laurel said, adding that the project is intended to lower input and food costs by fixing logistics bottlenecks.
Abra de Ilog currently serves as a roll-on, roll-off gateway to Batangas, but limited capacity has constrained growth. The planned deepwater port is expected to expand its role, building on recent Philippine Ports Authority upgrades, including port expansion, additional roro ramps, breakwaters and dredging.
The facility will feature a finger pier, modern fish market, cold storage, ice plants, warehouses, wastewater treatment facilities and solar power systems. These investments are expected to cut post-harvest losses and support export-grade food safety standards.
The project is expected to generate local jobs and attract logistics providers, while easing congestion at the Batangas port. Once approved, construction is expected to take about 24 months.
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