GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Shutting down operations in the country’s second largest fishing port complex could result into a daily loss of at least P70 million in export revenues alone.
In a 2019 production data released by both the General Santos City Fishing Port authorities and the fishing federation here, a one-day closure could mean a USD1.5 million loss for the country’s tuna export industry.
Average export price of tuna in 2019 was pegged at USD 2,184.31 per ton. The peso to the dollar exchange rate as of Friday is at P48.36 to a dollar.
According to the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries (SFFAI), canned tuna production in 2019 was valued at USD545,836,626 or a daily average revenue of USD1,495,442.84.
SFFAI also reported a total of 189,686 metric tons of tuna landed in the city valued at USD414,334,063.
Per records from the local Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), a total of 250,815.16 metric tons of fish were landed at the General Santos City fishing complex or average daily fish landings of 683.82 metric tons.
More than 85 percent of local fish landings are tuna specie of which 75 percent are bound for tuna canning and processing operations.
The potential revenue losses loomed as the city government, fishing operators and tuna producers are mulling the closing down of the fish port operations here following a rise in the number of corona virus (COVID 19) infections of patients with known work or visit at the fishing port complex here.
City adminstrator Arnel Zapatos said 5 persons with known visit to the fishport were found positive of COVID 19.
Also, a local medical pratitioner confirmed at least 3 COVID patients with known fish port visit are now admitted in different hospitals in the city.
Although no date has been set, the local fishing federation here, in a meeting Thursday, has recommended a 3 to 4 days shutdown to allow massive contact tracing and disinfection in the three market stalls at the fish port.
General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, however, said they are still studying the possibility of shutting down of operations in the fishing port.
Sources said the city government is looking at a 2-week closure but industry sources, including PFDA general manager Glen Pangapalan, said a prolonged closure could severely affect the country’s food security.
In a recommendation submitted to the office of Mayor Rivera, SFFAI has recommended the shutting down of fish port operations starting September 2 until September 4.
Pangapalan said the shorter and the sooner the fishport is shutdown, the better it is for the city’s tuna industry.
In addition to the government-run fishing port complex, private wharves of fishing companies are also unloading tuna catches.
General Santos City fishport operations also processed chilled and frozen tuna products amounting to USD 57,894,461 last year.
Per records from the local Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, a total of 250,815.16 metric tons of fish were landed at the General Santos City fishing complex or average daily fish landings of 683.82 metric tons.
Approximately 85 percent of fish landings are tuna and other tuna-like specie of which 75 percent goes to canning and processing operations. They rest are sold to the local markets all over Mindanao and to some extent in Visayas.
Total revenue losses for the local tuna industry could top the P100 million daily if the fish port is shutdown as numerous allied industries are dependent on the daily operations of the fish port.
In addition, some 121,000 jobs are generated, more than 26,000 of them directly, from the tuna industry here.
General Santos City is the acknowledged Tuna Capital of the country with more than 780 registered catcher fishing boats of different gross tonnage.
This does no include municipal tuna fisher folks, according to SFFAI.
