From The Inquirer

Airline companies need to add more direct flights to Japan so that the country’s competitiveness in the sashimi market could be boosted, tuna exporters said on Thursday.

Mario Malinao, manager of the Davao Fish Port Complex here, agreed with the position of the Philippine Exporters Association that airline companies should already consider mounting direct flights from this city to Japan.

Currently, tuna products here are flown to Manila before being on forwarded

to Japan and other destinations.

Malinao said in the case of sashimi, which needs to be fresh, the delay when forwarding the product already reduces its competitiveness.