The airline Cebu Pacific Air has been in charge of tuna shipments since PAL workers went on strike.
(Photo: Stock File/FIS)
Reports recently made alleging that the strike by Philippine Airlines (PAL) workers has impacted the tuna industry are false. The transport of fresh tuna headed to foreign markets has indeed not been affected by the ongoing labour dispute between the management and workers of PAL, exporters state.
Tuna businesses have been able to rely on alternate companies for help.
John Heitz, export manager of GenSan Aqua Traders, said budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air has been carrying out their shipments during the past two weeks, since PAL flights were first cancelled due to workers’ protests.
“We have not been really affected because Cebu Pacific continues to serve us here [on a daily basis],” he informed, MindaNews reports.
The PAL Employees Association went on strike late last month to protest the laying off of thousands of workers.
Reports alleged that the tuna industry was losing some PHP 50 million (USD 1.1 million) daily due to the PAL flight cancellations.
“The local chamber of commerce also revealed that, for the tuna industry alone, reported losses are to the tune of around PHP 50 million (USD 1.1 million) a day, the corresponding revenue value of a daily shipment stock of about 20-26 tonnes of tuna that did not reach its designated buyers because of cancelled flights,” GMA News quoted the Tourism Congress report as saying.
Heitz disputed it, noting that on a daily average, the five or six fresh tuna exporters could only fly out an estimated PHP 5 million (USD 114,960) worth of consignments to foreign markets such as the US and Japan.
The daily tuna exports sent out on airplanes mainly consist of large, sashimi-grade tuna caught using the handline fishing or the traditional hook and line method.
In contrast, canned tuna products are usually exported via ships, Heitz explained.
Bench Tacumba, executive director of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said her office did not release any figure on the effect of the PAL flight cancellations to the local tuna industry.
According to industry data, in 2010, fresh/frozen/whole tuna exports reached around USD 81 million, or about just PHP 10 million (USD 229,900) daily export production.
Tuna businesses have been able to rely on alternate companies for help.
John Heitz, export manager of GenSan Aqua Traders, said budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air has been carrying out their shipments during the past two weeks, since PAL flights were first cancelled due to workers’ protests.
“We have not been really affected because Cebu Pacific continues to serve us here [on a daily basis],” he informed, MindaNews reports.
The PAL Employees Association went on strike late last month to protest the laying off of thousands of workers.
Reports alleged that the tuna industry was losing some PHP 50 million (USD 1.1 million) daily due to the PAL flight cancellations.
“The local chamber of commerce also revealed that, for the tuna industry alone, reported losses are to the tune of around PHP 50 million (USD 1.1 million) a day, the corresponding revenue value of a daily shipment stock of about 20-26 tonnes of tuna that did not reach its designated buyers because of cancelled flights,” GMA News quoted the Tourism Congress report as saying.
Heitz disputed it, noting that on a daily average, the five or six fresh tuna exporters could only fly out an estimated PHP 5 million (USD 114,960) worth of consignments to foreign markets such as the US and Japan.
The daily tuna exports sent out on airplanes mainly consist of large, sashimi-grade tuna caught using the handline fishing or the traditional hook and line method.
In contrast, canned tuna products are usually exported via ships, Heitz explained.
Bench Tacumba, executive director of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said her office did not release any figure on the effect of the PAL flight cancellations to the local tuna industry.
According to industry data, in 2010, fresh/frozen/whole tuna exports reached around USD 81 million, or about just PHP 10 million (USD 229,900) daily export production.
Source: http://www.fis.com/
By Natalia Real
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