Abu dhabi: The Department of Agriculture: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday announced plans for the construction of a deepwater port in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, which is expected to stimulate the local economy and significantly reduce food costs in the province. According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the proposed PHP2-billion Abra de Ilog Deep Water Port project aims to accommodate large vessels, facilitating more efficient movement of agricultural commodities between Mindoro, Luzon, and export markets. "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," Laurel said, emphasizing that bulk shipping of food reduces costs from inputs to final products. The Abra de Ilog Deep Water Port will be managed by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA). The project includes components such as a finger pier, a modern fish market, cold storage, ice plants, warehouses, wastewater treatment facilities, solar power systems, and reefer vans, all contributing to meeting food safety standards and reducing post-harvest losses of local produce. The deepwater port project is anticipated to unlock the economic potential of recent upgrades by the Philippine Ports Authority, including port expansion, additional Ro-Ro ramps, breakwaters, and dredging works. Laurel also mentioned that the project is expected to generate more jobs and eventually ease congestion at the Batangas port. Once approved, the construction of the Abra de Ilog Deep Water Port is projected to take about two years. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aims to complete a chain of at least 10 deepwater ports to establish a logistics network that will boost economic growth, generate investments, create jobs, cut production costs, stimulate inter-island trade, and ensure food security.