President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has committed to strengthening support for the fisheries sector, particularly in General Santos City, highlighting the need to enhance cold storage infrastructure to maintain the quality of fish products.
During his visit to the General Santos Fish Port Complex, Marcos praised Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for building a large cold storage facility but emphasized the necessity for more. “Cold storage alone isn’t enough—we need to build the entire cold chain to preserve fish quality and boost market value,” he said.
He stressed that fish remains a vital part of the Filipino diet and economy, particularly with the Philippines being an archipelago of over 7,000 islands. Expanding agricultural and fish ports, he added, could help lower transportation costs and improve supply efficiency.
Marcos also recommended installing ice plants at drop-off points to ensure fish stays fresh until it reaches the market.
Agriculture Secretary Laurel, who previously led Frabelle Fishing Company, assured that a new shrimp testing facility is in development to further guarantee seafood quality. Marcos expressed confidence in Laurel’s ability to meet the sector’s needs, citing his deep industry knowledge.