Philippine Tuna Plant Shutdown Extended Following Aftershocks Damage

Alliance Select Foods International said it has extended the temporary suspension of operations at its General Santos tuna cannery, citing ongoing aftershocks in the area following last week’s magnitude-7.8 earthquake. The company, which had planned to resume operations on June 16, said reopening would proceed only after a comprehensive assessment of the facility is completed to ensure workers’ safety, according to Filipino media reports.

Preliminary inspections following the earthquake identified damage to warehouse facilities and parts of stored inventory. A wider assessment of buildings, equipment, inventories, and other assets is continuing so that the management can first evaluate the full extent of the impact. Alliance Select said the facility and related assets are insured, which helps offset losses resulting from repairs and business disruptions. Last week, Atuna reported that several tuna companies in General Santos, known as the Filipino tuna hub, suspended operations due to the impact of the earthquake, which has reportedly killed many and left over 20,000 people displaced.