Tour and Inspection of the General Santos Fish Port Complex and Ugnayan with the Fisherfolk 07/04/25

General Santos City
July 4, 2025

Reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to protecting and advancing the welfare of the fisherfolk — as one of the government’s crucial partners in attaining food security — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits the General Santos Fish Port Complex (GSFPC) in General Santos City on July 4, 2025.

The President witnesses the tuna trading activities in the fish port, including the unloading, weighing and grading of fresh tuna for export.

General Santos City is recognized as the center of the Philippine tuna industry, being home to eight (8) major tuna canneries, fish processors and exporters. With approximately 200,000 workers dependent on this sector, the industry is a major contributor to local employment and national economic development.

Anchoring this thriving industry is GSFPC, the country’s foremost tuna unloading facility catering to both domestic and international fishing vessels. As the primary hub for post-harvest operations, the fish port has consistently provided the necessary infrastructure and services for the efficient handling, trading and export of tuna and other fishery products.

The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), handles the operations of the GSFPC through its Regional Fish Ports Program. The PFDA remains steadfast in its mission to empower the fisherfolk and support the growth of its fisheries through sustainable, modern and responsive post-harvest infrastructure.

Apart from his inspection, President Marcos Jr. takes the opportunity to meet the fisherfolk in General Santos City. Together with DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., he engages in a discussion with the fishing community, port users and key stakeholders of the fisheries sector, highlighting the ongoing infrastructure of the PFDA for the GSFPC and presenting the government’s broader vision for modernizing fish ports in line with international standards. It also provides a venue for meaningful dialogue, allowing stakeholders to raise concerns, share insights and contribute to future policy directions.

He also leads the distribution of livelihood projects from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). These include Fish Aggregating Device (FAD)/Payao; salt production; fishing boats; marine engine; fish farming inputs; village-type fish processing center; fish processing equipment and marketing supplies; and complete seaweed farm implements and maintenance for six (6) seaweed nurseries.

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