| Keynote Address of Secretary Cerge M. Remonde during the Opening of the 9th Tuna Congress |
| 30 Aug 2007 General Santos City |
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I am happy to join all of you
this morning at the opening of the 9th tuna congress and exhibit. I understand this is one of the highlight events in the week-long tuna festival 2007, which was officially launched yesterday in a grand opening at the oval plaza. Let me thank the exhibitors, participants, suppliers, partners and service providers, who came all the way to GenSan from various places of the Philippines and of the world, to be part of this congress and exhibit. As many as 500 foreign and local institutional and individual participants have signed up, from as far away as France and Norway, and from neighboring Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Korea and the Solomon Islands. Quite impressive! You help promote an industry that accounts for 60% of the GenSan’s total income, generates P40 billion in economic activities annually, employs 120,000 people, and earns annual export receipts of US0 million. Not bad. Truly, you have made GenSan not only the tuna capital of the Philippines, but perhaps of the region as well. The Philippine Tuna Industry is a major sub-sector of the fisheries component of the primary sector — A.F.F. or Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry. As key players and movers of the industry, I am sure you are familiar with historical and current yields of our combined catching, canning and processing capabilities. I will not belabor the numbers, significant as they are, especially after the slump some two years ago. At this point, allow me to congratulate the host and organizers of this congress -- the SFFAAII or SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc., and its partner, the US-AID through the Growth with Equity in Mindanao or GEM program; the city of General Santos; and, the GenSan DTI -- not only for the significant increase in participants, which is more than double last year’s attendance, but more so in the choice of this year’s theme: "sustainable tuna industry: defining boundaries, facing new realities." We are aware of the issues and concerns that your industry deals with daily. And we, in government, have worked through a number of them in tandem with your leaders. Under intense lobbying of your federation, some concerns were addressed, as with the Senate ratification of the Philippine membership in the commission for the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, also known as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. This is but one of the many accomplishments of your federation. And this is the kind of partnership and cooperation that we look forward to. As you all know, we have lately laid down policies and implemented programs that nurture a business climate conducive to dynamic growth and development, guided by transparency, accountability and a level playing field. We successfully implemented hard-to-swallow reforms that gave us a winning streak of 26 quarters — the longest in our history -creating along the way an economic landscape laden with great opportunities for business. Confidence is up, and we are expecting a flood of investments in the wake of sound economic stewardship, and a lasting political stability. We are glad that many sectors, principal among them your sector and your federation, are really doing their own share of work to make the business horizon gleaming with prospects. By organizing and promoting conventions and trade shows such as this, bringing, as you described in your website, industry stakeholders nationwide to the discussion table, showcasing the latest in technology and sharing best practices, your federation strengthens and invigorates your industry. The Philippine government strongly supports the fishing industry, particularly the high value, high yield tuna. In GenSan, I understand, the daily landing of fish is over 1,000 metric tons. Your government, is doing its part, to support the sustainability of your industry. Among the specific concerns are: 1) Access under trade-related agreements and equitable tariffs and quotas This was raised at the 6th Mindanao Food Congress in Davao City, particularly our access to the US and EU markets, as well as our fisheries access tie-ups with the pacific island nations and the BIMP-EAGA. Our canned tuna quota allocation for the EU market must be looked into, same with the us’ preferential treatment of tuna exports from ANDEAN countries, to the disadvantage of our own exports. 2) Quality standards to meet export requirements Since 2003, your federation, in partnership with USAID, has been conducting training for quality officers from tuna processing plants, crew members of refrigerated vessels or ships, and labor contractors. This is important in filling the EU accounts which cover roughly 40 percent (40%) of the country’s exports of fresh and canned tuna. 3) Sustainability The tuna industry is now looking for alternative fishing grounds and measures for sustainable development of tuna stocks and sanctuaries. Through the years, fishing grounds have been over-fished. Poaching and other illegal fishing methods using fine mesh nets have disrupted the food chain and have led to fewer and declining catch compared to the 80’s when the tuna production started to evolve as a major industry. The decline in production may also be attributed to the worldwide changing ocean weather condition. Events like the 2004 tsunami, the successive fuel price increases (fuel cost eats up 40% of operational cost) also drove a substantial number of fishing fleets into bankruptcy. Furthermore, the entry of new tuna producing countries adds problems to the Philippine tuna industry. Government’s response to these concerns, while resolute, can only succeed with the sustained support of your industry. That support, I must confirm, has not been wanting. First, on the delineation of the country’s maritime boundaries before end of 2008, in compliance with the deadline set by UNCLOS. The President has created the commission on maritime and ocean affairs, and as a measure of its importance, designated Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, as its chairman. Second, on fishing access under trade-related agreements and equitable tariffs and quotas * Even as we speak, a bilateral meeting with Indonesia is scheduled on Sept 4-5, 2007 in Manila, to discuss the new fishing access agreement we submitted to Indonesia in the last bilateral meeting in Jakarta. Other areas of cooperation to be discussed during the bilateral meeting are: agreements on aquaculture, IUU fishing, post harvest, tuna research, etc. * We have submitted through the DFA the draft MOU on fisheries cooperation to Palau, PNG and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). We are waiting for their response. * Forged free trade agreements with the US, EU and other major trading partners. The department of agriculture is on point on these agreements. * As earlier mentioned, the senate ratified our membership in western and central pacific fisheries commission. Third, on further strengthening the industry * Formulated Philippine National Tuna Management Plan * Created the national tuna industry council, comprised of government officials and industry leaders, to serve as the venue to further strengthen the industry as well as work out issues confronting tuna fishing in the country. * Conducted exploratory research in the pacific for possible tuna fishing grounds currently being conducted * Provided incentives under E.O. 226, or the 1987 Omnibus Investment Code * Provided incentives under R.A. 8435, or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act The prospects of the Tuna Industry, for GenSan and for the country, are indeed bright. With Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio to support the industry in Congress and the Federation’s unwavering leadership, together with the various support programs of the National Government, we can truly make General Santos City not only the Tuna Capital of the Philippines and the Region, but perhaps the world. Again, thank you so much for having me and I wish you a most successful congress. |
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