Palawan gets P3.1-M funding for seaweed production project

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank, through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), is funding a seaweed production and marketing project in Johnson Island in Palawan, the Department of Agriculture said.

Through the DA-implemented PRDP, seaweed farmers who are members of the Johnson Island Fisherfolk Association (JIFA) would receive P3.1 million in funding for the establishment of seaweed nurseries.

 Palawan assistant provincial agriculturist Romeo Cabungcal said the project is among the priority programs of the Palawan provincial government to help uplift the lives of farmers in the province.

He said there are now 5,000 fishermen dependent on seaweed farming for a living. Once the project is fully operational, this would support the livelihood of 10,000 fishermen.

Palawan is among the top seaweed producers in the country, contributing 24 percent to the country’s total production volume.

In approving funding for the project, World Bank representatives who recently visited the project site had to make sure the ecological sustainability of the project is guaranteed as it is located in a marine protected area as identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“We want to give a boost to Palawan’s promising seaweeds industry without compromising the capacity of the project site to provide ecological services. We want this sustainable system to be emulated in our regular programs,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said.

Seaweed and carrageenan remain among the country’s top 10 agricultural exports. 

Carrageenan is an additive used for food and non-food products that need gelling, thickening, binding, texturizing and suspending properties.

The Philippines produces US-Food and Drug Administration-approved natural grade carrageenan.

Among the major markets for Philippine seaweed products are US, China and France.

The PRDP, rolled out in the second half of 2014, is a six-year program implemented by the DA with the World Bank for the creation of an inclusive, value-oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.

The total project cost for the PRDP is P27.5 billion consisting of a P20.5 billion loan from the World Bank, P3.58 billion counterpart funding from the national government, P3.11 billion equity of local government units, and P287 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The PRDP builds on the innovations introduced by the Mindanao Rural Development Program that was concluded in 2013. It would cover 80 provinces in 16 regions.

Local government units that choose to participate in the PRDP are required to provide counterpart funds of 10 percent of the project cost for production support for commodities and 20 percent of the project cost for infrastructure projects.