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4. GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONS
4.1 Government and international agencies
Seaweed farming is perceived by the Philippine government, especially the local government units, as a means to generate employment and alleviate poverty in coastal
communities. Seaweed is a multimillion-dollar export commodity that generates high revenues to the national economy.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources BFAR under the Department of Agriculture DA has provided various supports to the seaweed industry, including:
i giving farmers cultivars, ropes and soft ties; ii supporting the establishment of nurseries in order to overcome the seed constraint; and iii coordinating extension
services to farmers.
The Government has also established policy and regulations to promote sustainable development of the sector. For example, in a recent policy formulated as of
14 September 2009, standards and guidelines were established to ensure the quality and safety of seaweed products Table 7.
Using a top-to-bottom approach, the Government of the Philippines has formulated a National Seaweed Development Program to look into the priority concerns, issues
and problems of the seaweed industry in the country. Only the province of Bohol has developed a local policy for its seaweed industry, but all local governments are
responsible for issuing licences and permits to seaweed farmers within their respective areas.
International agencies have also played active roles in seaweed farming development in the Philippines by financing projects, providing technical assistance, and conducting
training or other capacity-building activities, among others. For example: • The IFC-ADB established two seaweed nurseries in Zamboanga City Arena
Blanco and Manicahan in June–September 2007. • The Seaplant.net-AusAID-EAI project established a BDS for the seaweed farmers
of Zamboanga City. • The GTZSeaplant.netAusAID-EAI project delivered training courses on good
aquaculture practices GAPs to LGUs, MAOs and state colleges and universities in Mindanao and Palawan;
• USAID and the International Youth Foundation IYF have become collaborators in the SPE3 programme promoted by the PDAP.
TABLE 7
Quality standards for farmed seaweed in the Philippines
Class Moisture content
Clean anhydrous seaweed
Impurities Sand and salt
Colour Kappaphycus
Class A ≤ 35
≥ 52 ≤ 3
≤ 10 Definitely not
black Class B
36–39 48–51
≤ 3 ≤ 10
Class C ≤ 40
≥ 47 ≤ 3
≤ 10
Eucheuma
Class A ≤ 30
≥ 57 ≤ 3
≤ 10 Definitely not
black Class B
31–34 53–56
≤ 3 ≤ 10
Class C ≤ 35
≥ 52 ≤ 3
≤ 10 Clean anhydrous seaweed refers to seaweeds that have been removed of moisture, salt, sand and other impurities.
Source: PNSBAFPS 2009.
4.2 Civil societies and research communities
Kategori