DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. – Photo courtesy of Department of Agricuture/Facebook.
To ensure a more comprehensive assessment regarding the status of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority’s (PFDA) General Santos Fish Port Complex following a strong earthquake last June 8, agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has Sunday ordered a more expansive structural assessment of the complex as a basis of action.
In a June 18 report to the Authority’s Board, acting PFDA general manager Glen Pangapalan disclosed that preliminary findings indicate that the facility remains structurally sound but initial inspections led to the temporary closure of Market Halls 1, 2 and 3 while Market Hall 4 was placed under limited operations as a safety measure.
Tiu Laurel enthused that further inspections, including an assessment of subsurface conditions, should be completed as soon as possible to ensure public safety.
“The expanded assessment, which will include a geotechnical investigation and inspections following aftershocks, will help validate the facility’s condition and determine any needed interventions,” the agri chief cited.
Accordingly, fish port operations have largely continued through contingency measures to maintain the flow of fish products and export activities while safety checks are ongoing.
“The General Santos Fish Port Complex is a key facility for the country’s tuna industry, supporting the livelihood of over 200,000 Filipinos in fisheries activities in Mindanao and export markets. The recent earthquake highlights the growing importance of resilient food logistics infrastructure as the country faces recurring climate-related disasters and seismic events,” Tiu Laurel noted.
He added that ports, trading centers and cold storage facilities play a critical role in food security and export competitiveness.