Salmon processing facility inaugurated in General Santos City

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—The Philippine’s first and the Asia’s newest—if not most modern—salmon and seafood processing and smoking facility was inaugurated here on Tuesday.

The P60-million facility is operated by Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Company, Inc., a joint venture between Prime Foods NZ Ltd. (PFNZ) and Alliance Select Foods International, Inc. (ASFII).

PFNZ is the second-largest smoked salmon processor in New Zealand while ASFII is the leading tuna canner in the Philippines.

ASFII (formerly Alliance Tuna International, Inc.) operates two canning plants here supplying pre-packaged tuna products to more than 55 countries.

Six out of seven tuna canneries in the Philippines are located in this southern seaport.

The smoked salmon facility, which has a capacity of processing two tons of salmon daily, is located right inside the ASFII tuna canning plant in the coastal village of Tambler. This allows BGB access to existing management, engineering, maintenance facilities and staff.

It is targeting Australia, Asia and Europe as markets for its products.

No less than New Zealand Ambassador Andrew Matheson and General Santos Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Custodio said the entry of Big Glory Bay was timely as it will help provide impetus to the local economy, especially since the tuna industry has suffered setbacks recently in the form of low tuna catch and rising fuel costs.

Custodio said the fishing industry was no longer the backbone of the local economy due to overfishing and climate change.

Teresita Ladanga, executive vice president and chief operations officer of ASFII, said the city’s business-friendly environment was the main reason why this group of investors decided to come here.

“This group of international businessmen from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the Philippines would not be here were it not for the business-friendly environment afforded by the city,” Ladanga said.