In its the Regional Economic Situationer 2009 Report, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA )attributed the decline in export income for Central Mindanao and General Santos to reduced production of the region’s top two dollar-earners, tuna and pineapple.
Exports dropped 7.3% to $541.98 million from $584.90 million in 2008. Of the total, canned tuna accounted for 38%; canned pineapple about 29%; coconut oil, 10%; fresh pineapple, 8%; and pouched tuna, 7%.
Commercial fish production, which makes up 75% of the total fish production of the region, declined by 12%.
