General Santos City — Known as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” General Santos City takes pride in its world-class fishing industry, celebrated each year through the Tuna Festival. But behind the city’s thriving fish port and bustling canneries are thousands of lowly workers and small-scale fisherfolk who remain vulnerable, underpaid, and underprotected despite their indispensable role in sustaining the local economy.
In a move seen as crucial to safeguarding the country’s fisheries sector, General Santos City Representative Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles renewed her call for the passage of House Bill 00937, also known as “An Act Creating the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR).”
Speaking during the organizational meeting of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, Bañas-Nograles emphasized the urgent need for a dedicated agency that will focus solely on the concerns of fisherfolk, aquaculture, and marine resources.
“We do not only talk of aquaculture and fishing, that also includes the concerns on commercial fishing in international waters, and international diplomacy also. As a line bureau, mahirap yata makipag sabayan at makipag sapalaran. I think it’s high time… I hope that in this 20th Congress, the creation of the Department of Fisheries will finally be enacted and become law,” the lawmaker said.
Currently, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) operates under the Department of Agriculture. While BFAR has managed the sector for decades, its limited mandate and resources make it difficult to address the vast challenges of an archipelagic nation like the Philippines, where millions depend on fishing for food and livelihood.
The proposed DFAR aims to:
- Provide focused governance in managing, conserving, and sustainably developing the country’s rich marine and aquatic resources;
- Strengthen the economic competitiveness of the fishing industry, a vital contributor to the national GDP;
- Ensure greater protection and empowerment of small fisherfolk, who often bear the brunt of illegal, unregulated fishing and lack access to modern equipment, technology, and social benefits.
For General Santos City, where fishing is not just an economic activity but also a cultural identity, the establishment of a Fisheries Department could mean long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices of tuna workers, fish processors, and artisanal fishers. Despite being at the heart of the multibillion-peso tuna industry, many of them remain contractual workers without adequate wages, benefits, or workplace security.
Advocates argue that HB00937 could pave the way for better social protection programs, labor rights, and capacity-building initiatives tailored to the needs of coastal communities. It would also empower local fisherfolk to take part in policymaking that directly affects their seas and livelihoods.
As General Santos celebrates its Tuna Festival every September, the call to pass the DFAR bill resonates strongly. Beyond the festive parades and tuna-cutting competitions lies the urgent plea of the city’s fishing communities: recognition, protection, and a chance at a more dignified life.
House Bill 00937 represents not just legislation but a promise — that the lifeblood of General Santos City and countless coastal towns across the country will no longer be left behind.