In celebration
of General Santos City’s Tuna Festival, the 15th National Tuna
Congress was held at SM City General Santos Trade Halls on the 6th
and 7th of September with the theme “Celebrating 15 years of
Advocacy, Partnership and Collaboration.”
A press conference was held in the morning of the first day which
was attended by the The Voice Publication of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University
as a part of the private sector which would promote out the Tuna Industry in
productive collaboration with government agencies, political leaders, industry
leaders and experts.
During the
conference, questions were raised on some of the 14 resolutions presented, and
one was regarding the passage of the law creating the Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources.
According to Mr.
Joaquin T. Lu, President of SFFAII, the Department, being on the secretary
level could participate in international conferences and through its creation,
the government could give more attention and immediate action to the needs of
the fishing industry which clearly provides more benefits and advantages than
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The Typhoon
Pablo incident was also recalled. Mr. Dominic R. Salazar, Chairman of the
Program and Resolutions Committee said that advance monitoring of the weather
as well as of the condition of the high seas is essential wherein speculations
of a perfect storm could be made. Mr.Marfenio Y. Tan, Chairman of SAFI Group of
Companies added that people should accept the drastic change of weather
patterns (climate change). Specifically, he also mentioned that fishing is
banned during typhoon season for safety.
Aside from the
fishing industry, there was also a resolution regarding the development of the
General Santos City airport. It is briefly said that the airport is strategic
in nature and the government is aiming for its improvement together with its
facilities for it to be globally competitive.
Other matters
addressed through follow-up questions concerned fishing boats, the
International Labour Organization Recommendation 199 and the minimumwages.
Meanwhile, at
the same morning, the Trade Exhibit was also opened which featured products of
different companies such as Citra Mina Group of Companies, Phoenix Petroleum
Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Energitex Power
Technologies Corporation, Dynamic Casting, Inc., Cebu Pacific Air, Unilab,
Banco De Oro Universal Bank, etc.
The Congress proceeded in the afternoon until
the next day wherein topics about the Tuna Industry were discussed, open forums
were conducted and the 15th NTC resolutions were developed.
Shandy Mae M. Pagco
