In a bid to strengthen the protection and promotion of the welfare of fishermen, who are recognized as one of the government’s key stakeholders, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally visited the General Santos Fish Port Complex (GSFPC) in General Santos City today, July 4, 2025.
During the event, President Marcos witnessed the port’s operations, including the unloading, weighing, and identification of fresh tuna for export.
Accordingly, General Santos City is known as the center of the country’s tuna industry, with an estimated 200,000 workers dependent on this sector, a major contributor to the country’s economic development.
Accompanied by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the President also took advantage of the visit to meet with fishermen in the said area and engaged in discussions with the fishing community and stakeholders in the fisheries sector, which is an ongoing infrastructure of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), for the GSFPC and presented the government’s broader vision for the modernization of fish ports in line with international standards.
He also led the distribution of livelihood projects from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which include Fish Aggregating Device (FAD)/Payao, salt production, fishing boats, marine engines, fish farming inputs, and village-type fish processing centers.|Bombo Irene Ardiente
