The DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has allocated a total of P1.06 billion for next year expenditures for a program aimed at further developing the seaweed industry.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (EPSDP) is part of the Department of Agriculture’s broader goal of boosting the aquaculture sector, particularly focusing on seaweed, which is one of the country’s major agricultural exports.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the industry produced around 1.6 million metric tons of fresh seaweed in 2023, which resulted in the production of about 228,570 metric tons of seaweed products having a total value of P12.7 billion pesos.
BFAR also notes that the Province of Tawi-tawi has 20,000 hectares of potential seaweed farming areas, in addition to the existing 62,000 hectares seaweed farms. Furthermore, potential farming areas of Southwestern Luzon and the Zamboanga Peninsula cover 12,736 hectares and 16,845 hectares, respectively.
