Mayor of Santos City Pedro B. Acharon jr. said that the continuous declining of tuna over the last two years can have devastating domino effects on the local economy. It is fact that the tuna industry is the main driving force of the city’s economic growth as it generates 75,000 direct jobs and accounts to 60 percent of the city’s economy.
It is true that tuna industry gave birth to another sector in the economy, the tuna value-added products (TVAPs) sector. The city mayor pointed out that the problem involving the tuna industry is serious. He appeal the local entrepreneurs “to explore the possibilities of opening up new industries.”
According to him the government support to the tuna industry remains relentless but this should not prevent the city from venturing on and developing other industries. It is fact that the boundary disputes between Indonesia and the Philippines goes beyond the singular control of the city government.
Santos City’s fishing giant, Marfin Tan, attributed that the rising global warming is the main reason for dwindling volume of tuna production. It is no denying fact that the city is currently journeying along steeply ascending economic spiral.
