The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) allocated P1.06 billion for the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (EPSDP) in 2024.
The initiative aims to bolster the country’s seaweed industry, which is a major agricultural export and dollar generator for the Philippines.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the program’s potential to create jobs and boost the economy.
“BFAR data indicates a substantial growth potential for seaweed farming, with identified expansion areas that could increase annual output by 50 percent,” he said.
BFAR officer-in-charge Isidro Velayo Jr. said P530 million would be used to distribute farm implements, establish new nurseries, maintain existing culture areas and construct warehouses, dryers and food carts.
He said P10 million would fund the purchase of bioreactors to produce 4,100 metric tons of seaweed propagules.
The PSA reported that the seaweed industry produced 1.6 million metric tons (MT) of fresh seaweed in 2023, generating P12.7 billion in revenue.
With untapped potential in regions like Tawi-Tawi, Southwestern Luzon and the Zamboanga Peninsula, the EPSDP aims to capitalize on this growth opportunity and buttress the Philippines’ position as a major seaweed producer.
