The Port of General Santos City has resumed limited operations after extensive post-earthquake inspections and repair works, marking a significant milestone in the city’s recovery from the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, 2026.
The resumption of port activities, reported by the Cebu Daily News on June 18, 2026, comes as a welcome relief for the city’s vital tuna fishing and export industry, which serves as the economic backbone of General Santos City — widely known as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”
The powerful earthquake had forced the immediate shutdown of the city’s international port, disrupting the movement of goods, fishing vessels, and cargo shipments. Two of the city’s largest tuna exporters had temporarily suspended operations, dealing a blow to both the local economy and the national seafood supply chain.
With the port now back in limited operation, fishing boats are once again able to dock and offload their catch, and cargo vessels can begin moving essential supplies in and out of the city. However, authorities caution that full operational capacity has not yet been restored, and some berthing areas remain under repair.
>”The reopening of the port, even on a limited basis, is a critical step in our economic recovery,” said a spokesperson for the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Our fishermen and business owners are eager to get back to work, and this gives them hope that things are moving in the right direction.”
The port’s partial reopening also facilitates the delivery of relief goods, construction materials, and humanitarian aid that have been flowing into the city from both national and international donors. The Philippine Army and various NGOs have been utilizing sea routes to reach remote quake-hit communities in Sarangani and neighboring provinces.
General Santos City’s fish port is one of the largest in the Philippines and handles thousands of metric tons of tuna and other seafood products annually. The facility serves not only the local fishing fleet but also vessels from across the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Maritime authorities, including the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), continue to monitor the structural integrity of port facilities and have implemented safety protocols for vessel movements in the area. Inspectors are conducting daily assessments of piers, wharves, and navigation channels.
Despite the positive development, challenges remain. Power outages continue to affect parts of the city, and road infrastructure repairs are still underway. The General Santos City Chamber of Commerce has called for the accelerated restoration of electricity and highway networks to support the full resumption of business activities.
City officials are optimistic that the port will return to full operational capacity within the coming weeks as repair works progress. In the meantime, the limited reopening represents a beacon of hope for a city determined to rebuild and recover from one of the most destructive natural disasters in its recent history.