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THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Monday that it allocated P1.06 billion in 2025 on programs that will boost the seaweed industry.

In a statement, the BFAR said that the funding will support the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program.

BFAR officer in charge Director Isidro M. Velayo, Jr. said “around half” of the funding will procure seaweed farm implements for distribution, establish 109 new nurseries, and maintain 24 existing seaweed culture areas.

“We will also construct eight warehouses and procure 34 mechanical dryers and 80 seaweed food carts,” he added.

Mr. Velayo said P10 million will go towards procuring two bioreactors, which are expected to produce 4,100 metric tons (MT) of seaweed planting material.

The planting materials will be sufficient for seaweed cultivation over 410 hectares and produce an estimated 102,500 MT of fresh seaweed, valued at about P850 million assuming a price of P58 per kilogram.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. cited the significant growth potential for seaweed farming.

Mr. Laurel added that BFAR has identified 64,000 hectares as potential expansion areas to increase the industry’s annual output by “more or less 50%.”

“This represents the low-hanging fruit that could create thousands of jobs and substantially boost foreign exchange earnings,” he said.

The BFAR said Tawi-Tawi province has 20,000 hectares of potential seaweed growing areas, in addition to the 62,000 hectares already in operation in the province.

Other potential growing areas are Southwestern Luzon (12,736 hectares) and Zamboanga Peninsula (16,845 hectares).

In 2023, seaweed production totaled 1.6 million MT, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Seaweed is among the Philippines’ top agricultural exports. — Adrian H. Halili