Alliance Select, Century Pacific pause GenSan operations after quake

By Alexandria Grace C. Magno, Reporter

TWO LISTED food companies have suspended operations at their General Santos (GenSan) City facilities after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the area on June 8, prompting evacuations, inspections and initial reports of damage to warehouses and inventory.

Alliance Select Foods International, Inc. said employees were evacuated in line with emergency protocols, with some personnel requiring medical attention following the quake.

“At this time, the company is unable to determine the full financial and operational impact of the incident,” it said in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday. “Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.”

The company, a tuna processing firm supplying products to more than 20 countries, said preliminary assessments showed damage to warehouse structures and some stored inventory in affected sections of the facility. It is conducting further inspections to determine the extent of structural and operational disruption.

Alliance Select said it seeks to resume operations by June 16, subject to completion of safety checks and any required remediation work.

After the disclosure, the Philippine Stock Exchange imposed a one-hour trading halt on Alliance Select shares.

Century Pacific Food, Inc. also said it had suspended operations at its General Santos facilities while it evaluates damage and awaits clearance from structural inspections and regulators.

“Our first priority is the safety of our employees and the surrounding community,” the company said in a disclosure. “We were able to evacuate our team and have suspended operations to ensure their safety.”

It said it seeks to resume operations within one to two weeks, depending on inspection results and regulatory approval.

Century Pacific said its facilities are covered by insurance, adding that retail partners hold sufficient stock to meet near-term demand despite the disruption.

It said it is supporting relief and response efforts in affected communities, including assistance to residents of Purok Filomena.

It added that it is working with local authorities and community groups as part of disaster response measures.

Century Pacific manufactures branded food products including Century Tuna, Argentina, 555, Ligo and Birch Tree, and also supplies private label tuna and coconut-based products for export markets.

Both companies said they are prioritizing employee safety and facility inspections as they work toward restoring normal operations in the coming days.