MANILA (July 4) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with fisherfolk on Friday as he inspected the General Santos Fish Port Complex (GSFPC) in General Santos City, outlining plans to modernize fishing infrastructure and strengthen the country’s cold chain system.
Marcos emphasized the need for more cold storage facilities, fish ports, and ice plants to maintain the quality of seafood from catch to market and reduce transport costs.
“We will do everything to support not only cold storage but the entire cold chain so that our catch remains fresh and of high quality, leading to better sales,” he told local fishers.
He underscored the critical role of the fishing industry in ensuring food security and boosting exports, thanking the sector for its contributions to the economy.
During the visit, the President observed tuna trading operations—unloading, weighing, and grading tuna for export. General Santos City is known as the country’s tuna capital, hosting eight major canneries and numerous processors.
Marcos also led the distribution of livelihood assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, including fishing boats, fish aggregating devices, seaweed farm equipment, and fish processing tools.
