CAR | January 26, 2026 – A World Bank-funded project in the Cordillera region finally given the green light to be constructed and will soon rise at the BFAR-CAR regional office premises following the recently held groundbreaking ceremony. Two infrastructure projects worth almost P-35 million pesos under the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) project were approved. These are the construction of a three-storey Fish Health Laboratory and Testing Facility, and the two-storey SCUBA Storage Facility.
“From the rivers that feed our highlands, to the seas that connect us to the world, they [the facilities] will serve as a hub of collaboration between government agencies and academic institutions and local stakeholders, empowering us to address community and ecological challenges and build a resilient future for generations to come,” said Lois June B. Fermin, Regional Director of CAR.
Under the Fisheries Management Area 6, the Cordillera region was among the beneficiaries of a foreign-funded initiative under the FishCore Project. The establishment of the Fish Health Laboratory Testing Facility aims to benefit stakeholders in the fisheries sector, including local government units, national government agencies, academe, researchers, and other partners engaged in fisheries development. It seeks to establish an accessible government facility that will provide laboratory services such as water quality testing, fish disease diagnosis, and a source of natural food for aquaculture production.
With a total awarded cost of PhP 32, 619,295.36, the project was awarded in December 2025 to E.T. Latawan Construction. Construction is scheduled to commence early this year and is expected to be completed within 365 days. The laboratory will soon rise beside the Post-Harvest and Laboratory Building along Eastern Road, Barangay Guisad, Baguio City.
Meanwhile, a storage facility worth PhP 1.6 million, awarded to Hillbrand Engineering, is being constructed beside the Provincial Fisheries Office of Benguet and is expected to be completed within 80 days. The facility will serve as a secure repository for SCUBA gear and fisheries assessment equipment, ensuring their safekeeping and operational readiness.
The facilities were originally intended for the province of Abra, but they were relocated to the Regional Office of CAR to ensure closer supervision, accessibility, and maintenance.
“You cannot put this type of facility sa Abra because it’s too far and kokonti ang masisilbihan nila na stakeholders. So better be here kasi nandito yung majority, and it’s more accessible,” shared Gonzalo Coloma of the Regional Project Implementing Unit (RPIU). “Definitely, it’s going to be a
great project for all of us,” he added.
Monitoring and evaluation activities will be conducted to ensure the proper utilization of the facilities, as well as the maintenance of equipment and delivery of services.
The office of the National Director, Elizer Salilig, also conveyed his support, “You are laying the foundation for stronger science, better stewardship, and a more secure future for our citizens.
May this activity remind us that every structure begins with a vision. Every partnership begins with trust, and very meaningful change begins with a single step taken together.”
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Regional Project Implementing Unit (RPIU) 6, headed by Gonzalo Coloma, along with Joshua Dulu and Mary Joy Metwa.
Representatives from E.T. Latawan Construction, represented by Oliver T. Yap-ingew and Ambrosio T. Chinayog, were also present, together with the Regional Director of CAR, representative of Provincial Fishery Office of Kalinga and Apayao, as well as chiefs and staff of the bureau.**
