SARGEN HANDLINE FIP

Training on VMS Installation and Troubleshooting

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:02:59 +0000

To strengthen vessel monitoring and traceability in the handline tuna fishery, the FIP supported a two-day hands-on training on VMS installation and troubleshooting on September 29–30, 2026. Sessions were held at the Validation and SARGEN Offices in the General Santos City Fish Port Complex.

The training covered the two VMS models currently installed on FIP vessels, the SRT-100 and the ALON A8000.

A presentation was conducted on the status of currently installed VMS units and the challenges BFAR faces in meeting the demand for more effective traceability.

Participants were guided through vessel tracking, safety alerts, and data reporting, as well as proper operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. The team also carried out onboard mounting, configuration, and testing to confirm each unit was transmitting data correctly.

Handline Stakeholders Complete 40-Hour BOSH Training for Safety Officer 2

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:56:31 +0000

As part of the Social FIP’s work on occupational safety and health, 21 participants from the handline sector completed the Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training for Safety Officer 2. The 40-hour course ran from September 28 to October 2, 2026, at Sun City Suites, General Santos City.

Over five days, OSH practitioners took participants through:

accident causation
workplace health hazards and work environment measurement
hazard identification, risk assessment, and control (HIRAC) and the hierarchy of controls
emergency preparedness and accident investigation
OSH legislation under Republic Act No. 11058 and DOLE Department Order No. 252, Series of 2025
OSH program development and the Employees’ Compensation Program

FIP Year 4 Progress Presented at the All About Handline Summit

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:43:09 +0000

The SARGEN Handline Fisheries Improvement Project took part in the All About Handline Summit on September 2, 2026, at Robinsons Place Gensan. The summit is a yearly gathering of handline fishers, vessel owners, industry partners, and government agencies.

At the summit, Mr. Jun Dagcutan Jr, Vice President of SARGEN Handline presented the audio-visual presentation. The first covered the FIP’s Year 4 progress.

Through the summit, the FIP continued to bring its work directly to the fishers and stakeholders whose participation drives the project.

SARGEN Handline FIP Earns an “A” Rating from Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:39:24 +0000

The SARGEN Handline Fisheries Improvement Project has received an “A” (Advanced Progress) rating from Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), up from its previous “C” rating. FisheryProgress notified the project of the update on August 14, 2026.

SFP evaluates fishery improvement projects through its FIP Evaluation Program, rating them on the progress shown in their environmental reporting. The updated rating now appears on the FIP’s FisheryProgress profile and its FishSource tracker. In its FishSource comment, SFP credited the upgrade to the FIP’s implementation of its Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) Species Policy, which was formally adopted through a ceremonial signing on March 12, 2026.

The FIP’s FisheryProgress profile also shows the project addressing 27 of 28 indicators, with its progress report up to date as of October 2026.

The rating reflects the combined work of SARGEN Handline members, vessel owners, captains and crew, FFSAPI, GS Pescador Seatrading Corporation, BFAR, and other partners. The FIP will build on this milestone as it continues working toward MSC certification by 2027.

FIP Takes Part in BFAR Regulatory Consultations on Catch Certification

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:34:02 +0000

The FIP joined BFAR’s Central Public Consultation on proposed amendments to FAO 268, Series of 2023, on the Catch Certification and Documentation Scheme, held at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City. BFAR XII Regional Director Eugene Casas gave the welcome address. He stressed the need to align Philippine catch certification with EU and international standards to keep market access. The BFAR Legal Division presented the proposed provisions. These include regular and simplified catch certificates, verified catch weights, transshipment declarations, and electronic certification through TRACES-NT for EU exports. The prescribed handline logsheet is included among the annexes. A Regulatory Impact Assessment survey was completed during the session. Industry participants also gave recommendations, including TRACES-NT training, clear processing timelines, simpler procedures for smaller vessels, and plain-language guidance for vessel masters. The consultation was briefly suspended because of a magnitude 5.1 earthquake and resumed once the venue was declared safe.

FIP Pilots an Electronic Monitoring System Aboard

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:26:30 +0000

As part of its work to improve monitoring coverage in the handline tuna fishery, the FIP installed a pilot Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) aboard F/B San Andres-168, a commercial handline vessel enrolled in the project. The EMS works alongside the vessel’s existing VMS by recording video of deck activity, giving the project another source of evidence for verifying catch handling.

The pilot uses a 4G, solar-powered pan-tilt-zoom camera with local SD-card storage and remote live viewing through a mobile app. The camera was mounted on the exterior of the wheelhouse, angled to cover the main catch-handling and storage area on deck, and paired with the app for remote access.

The results of this pilot will help the FIP decide on a wider rollout of electronic monitoring across the fleet.

SARGEN Handline FIP Reaffirms Support for Science-Based Harvest Strategies at WCPFC SC22

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:23:08 +0000

Building on its support for Harvest Control Rules at WCPFC22 in Manila in 2025, the FFSAPI–SARGEN Handline Fisheries Improvement Project expressed its continued support for the Philippine delegation to the 22nd Regular Session of the WCPFC Scientific Committee (SC22). The session was held from August 11 to 19, 2026 in Apia, Samoa, in a hybrid format.

In a letter, FIP leads wrote to Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Bayate, BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig, and BFAR Assistant Director Isidro Velayo Jr. They encouraged the delegation to stay actively engaged in scientific discussions on harvest strategies for tropical tuna. They also asked DA and BFAR to endorse the FIP’s separate letter to the Scientific Committee.

That letter, addressed to SC Chair Emily Crigler, recognized the Committee’s work on candidate Target Reference Points, Management Strategy Evaluation, and the scientific basis for Harvest Control Rules and Management Procedures for yellowfin and bigeye tuna. It explained that harvest strategies give fishery improvement projects the predictability and transparency they need for long-term planning. It also stressed that continued progress matters for the livelihoods of thousands of Filipino fishers and coastal families.

The letter was submitted by the Philippines as an official SC22 document, WCPFC-SC22-2026-OP03, dated August 10, 2026.

ALON VMS Installation and Replacement Conducted in Ladol, Alabel

cpccfip — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:18:43 +0000

On April 28, 2026, the FIP conducted another round of ALON Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) installation and replacement in Barangay Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province. The installation team worked with boat operators and owners to strengthen vessel monitoring, traceability, and safety at sea.

One handline vessel received a new ALON tracking unit, which was configured and tested for real-time data transmission. A second unit that had not been working reliably at sea was replaced, and the old unit was inspected and set aside for troubleshooting. The team then checked onboard that each device was securely mounted and transmitting accurate signals.

The boat operator was also shown how to operate the unit, carry out routine maintenance, and do basic troubleshooting so the system keeps working over time.

A milestone in vessel monitoring: By the end of the first semester of 2026, all 66 commercial handline vessels in the FIP had VMS installed, 21 with ALON units and 45 with SRT Marine units. For municipal vessels, 19 of the 22 target vessels had ALON units installed. The remaining three were delayed because the vessels were under repair. In total, 85 of the 88 target vessels were equipped with VMS.

FFSAPI–SARGEN Handline Fisheries Improvement ProjectOwner’s Conference

cpccfip — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:10:58 +0000

On March 30, 2026, an Owner’s Conference was held at the PESCADOR Conference Room, Fish Port Complex, General Santos City, bringing together vessel owners, project partners, and key stakeholders of the SARGEN Handline sector.

The meeting focused on transitioning from the adoption of social policies to their full implementation in preparation for future audits. A key target discussed was the training of approximately 1,200 fishers by December 2026 on the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy, Confidential Grievance Mechanism, and Age Verification Process. Flexible training schedules and accessible venues were proposed to ensure maximum participation, alongside structured documentation systems to support compliance.

Participants reviewed the training framework, which includes small-group sessions, audio-visual materials in Cebuano, and assessment tools to reinforce understanding. Emphasis was placed on continuous implementation, proper documentation, and ensuring functional systems such as grievance hotlines to demonstrate real, on-the-ground compliance.

The session also introduced a histamine testing initiative aimed at improving food safety and export quality of tuna products. Through rapid testing and improved handling practices, the project seeks to ensure compliance with international standards while enhancing product value.

Overall, the conference underscored the importance of moving beyond policy adoption toward consistent, verifiable implementation, strengthening both social responsibility and product quality within the handline fisheries sector.

BFAR VMS and ERS Re-Training Orientation

cpccfip — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:57:55 +0000

From March 24–26, 2026, a three-day re-training orientation on the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Electronic Reporting System (ERS) was successfully conducted in General Santos City, bringing together key stakeholders from the handline fisheries sector.

The activity aimed to strengthen compliance with national fisheries regulations, particularly Fisheries Administrative Orders (FAO) Nos. 260, 266, and 198-1, while reinforcing monitoring, control, and surveillance systems to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Participants were re-oriented on vessel registration, licensing requirements, and mandatory catch reporting, alongside the critical role of VMS in ensuring traceability and fisher safety.

Sessions included technical presentations, regulatory discussions, and hands-on demonstrations of VMS devices to validate operational procedures such as activation, signal transmission, and real-time tracking. An open forum also provided a platform for participants to raise operational concerns, particularly on device reliability and battery performance.

The activity concluded with recommendations for onboard inspections and a structured testing plan for various VMS units to assess performance under actual fishing conditions. Overall, the training reinforced the sector’s commitment to regulatory compliance, improved traceability systems, and sustainable fisheries management.