On March 10, 2025, a meeting was held at the Office of the Municipal Mayor in Maasim, Sarangani Province to address tuna traceability concerns related to catches unloaded in Maasim and transported to the General Santos City Fishport Complex without proper documentation. The FFSAPI-SARGEN Handline Fisheries Improvement Project team presented key issues impacting tuna exports, including the lack of logsheets, local transport permits, and fishing permits, which pose challenges for securing export approvals. The team also introduced Fisheries Office Order No. 127, which outlines voluntary guidelines for LGUs to establish a catch documentation and traceability system in compliance with national fisheries regulations.
Hon. Mayor Zyrex Pacquiao, joined by the Municipal Fisheries Officer, expressed support for the initiative and emphasized the municipality’s willingness to comply with the requirements. BFAR12 recommended deploying a team to train municipal fisheries coordinators on proper documentation procedures. Additionally, the team raised concerns about the absence of fisheries identification cards among fisherfolk, which could hinder efforts to prevent child labor, to which the LGU committed to address under Executive Order No. 305. The meeting concluded with a commitment from both the LGU and stakeholders to enhance traceability efforts and strengthen compliance with export and market standards.
