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Republic of the Philippines i
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \
Quezon City, Metro Manila iy

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4641

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. LORETO B, ACHARON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Forty (40) years after tuna was discovered along the shores of Sarangani Bay, this migratory fish remains
not just a major export commodity for the City of General Santos, but more so as a main source of
livelihood for its inhabitants and a major contributor to the country’s overall GDP.

Within twenty-four (24) hours after fresh tuna is unloaded at the General Santos City Fish Port Complex,
sashimi-grade tuna is flown directly to markets in the United States, Europe, and Japan while canned tuna
products are exported to just about anywhere in the world.

The City of General Santos is host to six (6) of the eight (8) tuna canneries in the Philippines and other
allied industries that employ around 120,000 people for an industry value of around fifty-eight (58) million
Us dollars.

Even with the advent of emerging markets in other provinces with tuna as the main driver of local
economics, the City of General Santos remains as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines for all practical intents
and purposes as evidenced by the conduct of the annual National Tuna Congress, now on its 24" edition
in the City of General Santos and every year before that, an acknowledgement without doubt to our claims
to the title.

This bill therefore seeks to declare the City of General Santos as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines in
recognition of its status as the largest producer of fresh and canned tuna products for the last four (4)
decades.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LORETO B. ACHARON—


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Mai

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4641

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. LORETO B. ACHARON

AN
ACT DECLARING THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS AS THE
TUNA CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1, Article XII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State
shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian
reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources, which are
‘competitive in both domestic and foreign markets.

Towards this end, the State recognizes the importance of the tuna industry as a driver of
development not only because of its potentials as a source of tuna products that contributed tremendously
to the country’s export earnings, but for having provided livelihood to a multitude of fisherfolks and
workers of allied industries not only in the City of General Santos, but also in the rest of the country.

SEC. 2. In recognition of its status as the country’s largest producer of fresh and canned tuna and
vital contribution in making the Philippines a major player in the world tuna industry, the City of General
Santos is hereby declared as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines”.

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.