INAPRUBAHAN ng Kamara de Representantes sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukala na naglalayong kilalanin ang General Santos City bilang “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” bilang pagkilala sa pagiging pangunahing producer nito ng sariwa at canned tuna.

Sa botong 249-0 at walang abstention, inaprubahan ng Kamara ang House Bill (HB) No. 4641 na pangunahing iniakda ni General Santos City Rep. Loreto B. Acharon.

“The House of Representatives, through this proposed legislation, would like to honor the importance of the tuna industry as a driver of development. It is not only a source of export earnings, but also a source of livelihood to our fisherfolks and workers in the City of General Santos, and the rest of the country,” saad ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, lider ng 311 miyembro ng House of Representatives, said.

“Indeed, the largest producer of canned and fresh tuna in the country for four decades deserve this timely recognition as we take pride in supporting the development of this industry in the coming years,” dagdag niya.

Kabilang sa mga may-akda ng HB No. 4641 ay sina Reps. Loreto B. Acharon, Alfredo D. Marañon III, Mannuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, Danny A. Domingo, Alan B. Ecleo 1, Ciriaco B. Gato Jr., Eric R. Oly Buhain, Dante S. Garcia, Charisse Anne C. Hernandez, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matinag, Ramon Jolo B. Revilla III, Jeyzel Victoria C. Yu, Isidro D. Lumayag, Munir N. Arbison Jr., Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., Jose Gay G. Padiernos, Divina Grace C. Yu, Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, at Antonieta R. Eudela.

Ayon kay Acharon sa Gen San matatagpuan ang anim sa walong tuna canneries sa Pilipinas na nag-eempleyo ng nasa 120,000 na indibidwal at may industry value na tinatayang US$58 million.

“Even with the advent of emerging markets in other provinces with tuna as the main driver of local economics. The City of General Santos remains as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines for all practical intents and purposes as evidenced by the conduct of the annual National Tuna Congress, now on its 24th edition in the City of General Santos and every year before that, an acknowledgement without doubt to our claims to the title,” sabi ni Acharon

Apatnapung taon na ang nakakaraan, natuklasan ang naturang migratory fish sa baybayin ng Sarangani Bay, at nagsisilbi ito ngayong pangunahing kalakal ng General Santos City at siya ring pangunahing ikinabubuhay ng mga residente doon maliban pa sa malaking ambag sa kabuuang gross domestic product (GDP).