President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday, July 4, 2025, vowed to support the tuna industry in General Santos City, saying there is a need to establish more cold storage facilities to preserve the quality of fish products.

Marcos was in the city to inspect the Fish Port Complex, observe the tuna trading activities, and engage with local fisherfolk.

“Gagawin namin ang lahat para masuportahan hindi lamang ang cold storage kundi yung buong cold chain para yung mga huli natin ay pagdating sa market ay maganda pa rin at yung quality ng isda ay ma maintain para siyempre mas maganda ang benta,” Marcos said.

Marcos also bared plans to address the transportation cost of fish and other agricultural products by building more fish ports and agricultural ports.

“Magtatayo tayo ng mga fish port, mga agricultural port para mabawasan ang ating transport cost. Pati ice plant para roon sa maliliit na bagsakan ay mayroong pagkukuhanan ng yelo hindi lamang para roon sa lugar, para ‘paglalaot ang mga bangka may dalang yelo para laging sariwa ang inyong huli,” he added.

The President also led the distribution of more than P22.8 million livelihood assistance to fisherfolk during the activity. This aid included fish aggregating devices, fishing boats, and farm inputs, among others.

“Kaning pagkahatag ani sa nadisgrasyahan nga bangka kay nadisgrasya man tung bangka gumikan sa bagyo,” a fisherman, Herminihildo Bibat, said.

“Kasama talaga sa mandato natin ang i empower natin sila. Yung pamimigay nitong mga startup na gamit, i boost pa namin yan ng technical assistance, monitoring, and coaching mentoring sa ating fisherfolk hanggang sa silay tuluyang makabuo ng business,” Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (BFAR-12) OIC Assistant Regional Director, Omar Sabal, added.

Marcos also visited a canned tuna processing plant and a coconut processing facility in Barangay Tambler.