Project Updates

The Employer’s Forum organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on October 31, 2024, in General Santos City, centered on improving labor standards, occupational safety, and productivity in industries such as fishing, manufacturing, and labor services. The event gathered about 90 participants, including 23 from the FFSAPI-Sargen Handline Fisheries Improvement Project. The program […]

From October 14 to 19, 2024, Becky Caton, Key Traceability Social Auditor visited General Santos City to conduct a Social Risk Assessment focusing on transparency and operational compliance within the fishing industry. The multi-day audit aimed to assess vessel operations, management practices, and crew conditions across various fishing sites and companies. The event commenced with

From August 5-8, 2024, a specialized training program was held at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City, to enhance the skills of 45 tuna handliners. Tailored to the unique needs of the tuna handline fishery, the program focused on sustainability and improving operational practices in line with the Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP). The training opened with

On August 7, 2024, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XII, in collaboration with 27 government agencies, hosted the One-Stop-Shop: Programa ug Serbisyo para sa Mananagat at Market 1, General Santos Fish Port Complex. The event ran from 7 AM to 3 PM and provided essential services to the fishing community. The activity

Ms. Emma Garay, President of the Fresh Frozen Seafood Association of the Philippines, Inc. (FFSAPI), delivered the FFSAPI-SARGEN HANDLINE Fisheries Improvement Project updates during the second day of the 24th National Tuna Congress on September 4, 2024, held at Robinsons Gensan, General Santos City, Philippines.  In her presentation, Ms. Garay outlined the progress of the

Photo Credit: LGU GenSan: TATAK Heneral Facebook Page Mr. Sammy Garcia, Vice President of the Fresh Frozen Seafood Association of the Philippines, Inc. (FFSAPI), delivered the FFSAPI-SARGEN HANDLINE Fisheries Improvement Project updates during the 24th NTC All About Handline Summit on September 3, 2024, held at Robinsons Gensan, General Santos City, Philippines. The summit served

On June 7, 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Rural Sectors Project and DOLE Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN co-organized a special meeting of the Fishing Industry Tripartite Council (FITC) at the Grand Summit Hotel in General Santos City. Participants included representatives from DOLE Region XII, FITC members, and ILO Rural Sectors Project. The meeting aimed

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducted a 4-day Capacity Building Training for tuna handliners from June 3-6, 2024, at the East Asia Royale Hotel. The training focused on sustainability, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, and Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). Key topics included: 1. MSC Certification and FIPs: An orientation session introduced the

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) conducted a review and consultation on the NTMP 2019-2023 on May 29-30, 2024, in Quezon City. The event gathered stakeholders from the tuna industry to assess progress, discuss achievements, and propose improvements for sustainable tuna management. Key attendees included representatives from various organizations in Region

Addressing the knowledge gap on the use of FADs in handline fishing, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is spearheading a study on Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and their impact on bycatch, endangered, threatened, and protected species (ETP) within Fisheries Management Areas 2 and 3. To solidify their commitment to the project, a