BFAR - Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 | 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖/𝗔𝗤𝗗 distributed 2.16 tons of tissue-cultured Kappaphycus alvarezii (“guso” or “tambalang”) seaweed seedlings to coastal communities in Northern Iloilo on May 6 and 12 to support sustainable seaweed farming and strengthen local livelihoods. Beneficiaries from the municipalities of Concepcion, Ajuy, and San Dionisio received the planting materials cultivated in Pandan, Antique using tissue-cultured plantlets developed by the Seaweed Laboratory in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

The municipalities of Concepcion, Ajuy, and San Dionisio were among the recipients of the seaweed seedlings distribution. Concepcion received 850 kilograms for 85 beneficiaries from five barangays, while Ajuy received 200 kilograms for 23 farmers from two barangays. San Dionisio obtained the largest allocation of 1.11 tons, distributed to 139 members from five seaweed growers’ associations. Tissue-cultured seaweeds are known to be more robust and faster growing compared to older propagated stocks, contributing to improved production and livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.

The activity was implemented through the project “Seaweed Production Using Tissue-Cultured Kappaphycus alvarezii Plantlets in Pandan, Antique” in collaboration with the local government of Pandan, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Iloilo, and DA-BFAR Region 6. SEAFDEC/AQD reaffirmed its commitment to promoting science-based aquaculture technologies and supporting sustainable seaweed farming initiatives for coastal communities.

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬

In recognizing the crucial contributions of our farmers and fisherfolk to the nation’s food security and sustainability. the 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑-𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 participated in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month 2026 with the theme “𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐛𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐲-𝐩𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐚’𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬”. This activity showcases the various value-added products developed and produced by farmers and fisherfolk to promote local enterprises, enhance market opportunities, and highlight the innovation and sustainability of the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 (BFAR) 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐗 featured seaweed-based products such as 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧, 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐳𝐞𝐥𝐬, and 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬, produced by the 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and the 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (LAWILA). ]𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐀 (𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐕-𝐁) presented 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 and 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 through the 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. The 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 (NSTDC) likewise showcased 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 produced by the Grand Hive, while 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐈𝐈 exhibited 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐨 from the 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Overall, the activity highlighted the importance of promoting seaweed-based products and strengthening support for farmers and fisherfolk through innovation and community participation.

𝗗𝗔-𝗕𝗙𝗔𝗥 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆

The 1st Regional Seaweed Summit, held in Butuan City on May 12-13, 2026, brings together vital industry stakeholders. The activity, titled "𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲" brought together representatives from government agencies, education, private sector groups, fisherfolk organizations, and local government units to discuss the current status, opportunities, and challenges of the Caraga region's seaweed industry.

The summit highlighted the important role of seaweed farming in strengthening livelihood opportunities, environmental sustainability, and economic growth in coastal communities. Discussions also emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address challenges affecting the industry, including climate-related disturbances, disease outbreaks, production inefficiencies, and limited market access. Despite the decline in regional seaweed production over the years, stakeholders remained optimistic on the industry’s recovery through sustainable interventions and continued partnerships.

Technical sessions were led by experts and industry practitioners from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, including renowned seaweed scientist 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐐. 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐨; 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐫. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂. 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐫.; 𝐃𝐫. 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐨 𝐂. 𝐑𝐮𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐉𝐫.; 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨; 𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐂. 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭; and representatives from the DA-BFAR Enhance Philippine Seaweed Development Program, 𝐉𝐨𝐲𝐳𝐚 𝐑. 𝐄𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐨, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐂. 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐬, regional seaweed focal 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐨, and alternate focal 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚ñ𝐨𝐬. The summit served as a platform for sharing updates on emerging technologies, sustainable production systems, research innovations, and market opportunities for the seaweed industry.