Tuna industry seeks reforms

a or players and stakeholders in the tuna industry will gather once more during the 1 th ational Tuna Congress and Trade xhibit to be held from Sept. to , at the S City Trade all in Gen. Santos City.

The tuna industry players and stakeholders are set to call on government for policies governing the tuna industry.

Organi ed by the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied ndustries, nc. (SFFA ), the gathering is expected to pass 1 resolutions pertaining to vital government reforms to make the tuna sector more resilient.

ith the theme “Celebrating 1 ears of Advocacy, Partnership and Collaboration,” the annual confab will draw delegates and resource persons from Palau, Papua ew Guinea, ndonesia, Solomon slands, apan, the nited States, taly and Taiwan.

Tuna Congress chairman oa uin Lu said that among the top resolutions the congress would pass is for the creation of a Department of Fisheries and A uatic Resources (DFAR) which has been a recurring clamor of the fishing industry for the past four TCs.

Lu, a leading player in the local tuna industry, said there is a need to give priority to the fishery sector to ensure the nurture of the country’s archipelagic waters in light of the depletion of the resources of the sea.

e noted that the country could leverage better in international ministerial conferences if it is represented by a Cabinet secretary, and not ust a bureau director.

The Senate and the ouse of Representatives have expressed their support for the creation of the DFAR, but were unable to pass the bill before it ad ourned for the 1 midterm elections.

The Tuna Congress would also re uest the Department of Transportation and Communications to expedite the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations of the andline Fishing Law to help develop the handline fishing industry.

Lu said the RR has become more important now that the estern and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has granted access to Philippine fishing vessels at Pocket 1 of the world’s fishing grounds under a special management arrangement.

n line with this, the tuna players would also call on President A uino for the creation of a Philippine Committee for Advancement of ighly igratory Fisheries to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks.

TC delegates would also press for the rationali ation of the Customs and Tariff Code or the Cabotage Law to reduce freight costs, and improve efficiency of passenger and cargo services.