Palau To Explore Tuna Catching Joint Ventures ff

Written by Romer S. Sarmiento

Fisheries officials and tuna businessmen from Palau are expected to visit General Santos city within the month to explore joint ventures with Filipino counterparts, an industry official said last Monday.

”About five to 10 local fishing companies have expressed interest to forge joint business ventures on tuna catching with the businessmen from Palau,”

Bayani B. Fredeluces, executive director of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc., said in a phone interview. 

Among the local fishing companies that have signified interest are those owned by prominent local families such as the Tans, Damalerios and Amadeos, Mr. Fredeluces added. 

Jerry C. Damalerio, manager of Damalerio Fishing Enterprise, said his company is looking forward to talks with the Palau delegation. The General Santos-based Damalerio family operates the PT Samudera Sentosa tuna plant in Bitung, Indonesia. 

The visit comes as the Philippines and Palau are set to discuss fishing access agreements. Aside from Palau, the Philippines will also negotiate with Papua New Guinea, Fisheries bureau director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr. had said earlier. 

Presently, two Philippine tuna firms - RD Tuna Canners (PNG) Ltd., a subsidiary of home-grown RD Group of Companies, and Frabelle (PNG) Ltd. of Frabelle Fishing Corp. - are operating canneries in Papua New Guinea.