A group of tuna fishers in General Santos City decried the government’s failure to step up efforts to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing that threaten the local tuna fishing industry. Jake Fajurano, Melvi Fishing Industry manager and an officer of the Alliance of Tuna Handliners, told media that the Department of Agriculture and the city government failed to implement Executive Order (EO) 154. The EO 154, signed by President Benigno Aquino 3rd on December 2013, calls for the implementation of a national plan of action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Adlaw, J. (2015, September 3). 'Govt failed to stop illegal fishing'. The Manila Times, p. A7.