A new tuna processing facility in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro promises to improve incomes for fishermen by allowing them to add value to their catch rather than selling raw fish at lower prices.

The facility in Barangay Rumbang, jointly funded by the World Bank and the Philippine Rural Development Project under the Department of Agriculture, was completed in 2025.

Congressional Special Assistant on Operations Ronnie F. Tarriela inspected the facility at the invitation of the Federation of Fisherfolks Association of Rizal to discuss funding support from Rep. Odie F. Tarriela for continued operations.

He was joined by Mayor Ernesto “Sonny” Pablo Jr., Alexis Guevarra and Councilor Jenny Siscar.

The processing plant will enable FEFAR members to produce tuna-based products, creating additional livelihood opportunities for residents beyond traditional fishing activities.

TESDA MIMAROPA Regional Director Angelina M. Carreon, along with provincial and local TESDA officials, visited the construction site to assess progress and plan training interventions.

TESDA will offer Food Processing NC I and II, and Bookkeeping NC III courses to FEFAR members.

The facility features state-of-the-art equipment for receiving, processing, packaging and cold storage, along with administrative offices and quality control laboratories designed for efficient and eco-friendly operations.

Processing facilities can help reduce the 20-40% of fish lost annually in the Philippines due to poor post-harvest practices, while increasing the value of fishery products and raising incomes for fishing organizations.

The facility is important as small-scale fishers in the country who comprise 85% of Filipino fishers and catch nearly half the country’s fish, remain among the poorest and most marginalized people despite the sector generating over P193 billion pesos annually.

In Occidental Mindoro, over 1,000 fishers rely on yellowfin tuna for their livelihood, with the province recording 158.668 metric tons of tuna caught annually.

Processing capabilities could help fishers capture more value from this catch by producing products for both domestic and export markets.

photos courtesy of TESDA Mimaropa