President Marcos Jr. Promises to Enhance Fisheries Sector with New Ports and Cold Chain System

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed to boost the fisheries industry by building more agricultural and fish ports and improving the cold chain system in the country. Marcos made the commitment when he met with fisherfolk at the General Santos Fish Port Complex in General Santos City.

\"Hope goes to fisheries. So, we will help you, we will do everything, the systems. We will build fish ports, agricultural ports to reduce our transport costs, as well as ice plants in small trading hubs so there will be a source of ice,\" Marcos said.

\"We will do everything to revive the fisheries industry because when we look at the Filipino diet, fish and seafood are essential,\" he added.

The President said that while the Department of Agriculture (DA) has constructed a major cold storage facility in the area, more were needed.

\"We will do everything we can to support not only cold storage but the entire cold chain so that what we catch, when it arrives at the market, is still good and the quality of the fish is maintained so that sales are better,\" he said.

The President also backed the establishment of a fish testing facility in the port, with focus on shrimp quality and histamine levels to meet international standards.

Marcos said that with over 7,000 islands, the Philippines must leverage its rich marine resources.

During his visit, the President witnessed the tuna trading activities in the fish port, including the unloading, weighing, and grading of fresh tuna for export. General Santos, recognized as the center of the Philippine tuna industry, is home to eight major tuna canneries and exporters, supporting around 200,000 workers.

He later led the distribution of livelihood projects from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. These include fish aggregating device/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 seaweed nurseries.