05 August 2005
Photo: Pangasinenses in Austria
Expat Pangasinenses now living or working in Austria recently organized themselves into the Pangasinan Society in Austria to keep their home province and Filipino bonds strong and alive. The group, headed by Philippine National Bank Austria Manager Bing Cruz, seeks to help newly arrived Pangasinenses in Austria adjust well to their new “home.” Among those in photo during a recent gathering are Philippine Embassy Vice Consul Bobby Ferrer, Jr. of Dagupan City (standing in background, second from right), Camilo Juni of the United Nations in Vienna (extreme right), Evelyn Ildefonso (seated at center in foreground) and Cruz (extreme left). Others in photo also live and work in Austria.
Fuming Guico vetoes SB resolution on dengue
BINALONAN – Mayor Ramon Guico, Jr. vetoed a resolution of the municipal council declaring Binalonan a calamity area for dengue, a disease caused by day-biting mosquitoes.
Guico, Jr. said he had to rush home here from Manila after listening to a television report that his town was declared a calamity area for dengue, greatly alarming residents of the town and people from the adjacent municipalities.
“I am vetoing the resolution because that was premature and was passed without any basis at all,” said Guico, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines and also of the Pangasinan Mayors League.
Chiding municipal councilors for the fiasco, Guico said there is nothing to be alarmed about because dengue cases in the town, upon official verification, are within manageable level.
He said the municipal government is undertaking preventive measures through fogging operations and urging the people to clean their home and surroundings.
The resolution was passed last Monday during a regular session presided over by Councilor Francis Tinio in the absence of Vice Mayor Myrnabel Uy, who was in Manila to renew her visa with the United States Embassy.
Guico admitted there are procedures to be observed and facts and figures that should have been established before an area is declared a state of calamity for any kind of diseases.
He said the resolution was passed without any consultation with the Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Marcelo Patawaran.
Councilor Noel Bautista, chairman on the committee on health, sponsored the resolution based on initial reports that there were up to 15 people, mostly students from the Don Juan Macaraeg National High School (DJMNHS), who were downed by dengue fever.
Guico wondered why the municipal council passed the resolution when Dr. Patawaran reported only minimal cases of dengue in the town since last week.
“Actually, what was officially reported to me was that there were only six persons afflicted with dengue in the town but most of these were already discharged from the hospital after having received blood transfusion and given vitamins,” he said.
He said the municipal council should have exercised circumspection because this was a very serious matter and can catch the attention of the whole nation as it apparently did.
Antonio Melanes, principal of the DJMNHS, admitted there were at least 10 dengue victims in his school but all of them are now well, including two others who remained at the Villaflor Doctors’ Hospital in Dagupan City. No death has been reported, he added.
Guico, Jr. said he had to rush home here from Manila after listening to a television report that his town was declared a calamity area for dengue, greatly alarming residents of the town and people from the adjacent municipalities.
“I am vetoing the resolution because that was premature and was passed without any basis at all,” said Guico, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines and also of the Pangasinan Mayors League.
Chiding municipal councilors for the fiasco, Guico said there is nothing to be alarmed about because dengue cases in the town, upon official verification, are within manageable level.
He said the municipal government is undertaking preventive measures through fogging operations and urging the people to clean their home and surroundings.
The resolution was passed last Monday during a regular session presided over by Councilor Francis Tinio in the absence of Vice Mayor Myrnabel Uy, who was in Manila to renew her visa with the United States Embassy.
Guico admitted there are procedures to be observed and facts and figures that should have been established before an area is declared a state of calamity for any kind of diseases.
He said the resolution was passed without any consultation with the Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Marcelo Patawaran.
Councilor Noel Bautista, chairman on the committee on health, sponsored the resolution based on initial reports that there were up to 15 people, mostly students from the Don Juan Macaraeg National High School (DJMNHS), who were downed by dengue fever.
Guico wondered why the municipal council passed the resolution when Dr. Patawaran reported only minimal cases of dengue in the town since last week.
“Actually, what was officially reported to me was that there were only six persons afflicted with dengue in the town but most of these were already discharged from the hospital after having received blood transfusion and given vitamins,” he said.
He said the municipal council should have exercised circumspection because this was a very serious matter and can catch the attention of the whole nation as it apparently did.
Antonio Melanes, principal of the DJMNHS, admitted there were at least 10 dengue victims in his school but all of them are now well, including two others who remained at the Villaflor Doctors’ Hospital in Dagupan City. No death has been reported, he added.
For Mayor BSL, it’s still ‘GMA-Resign
CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim maintained his call for President Gloria Arroyo to make a supreme sacrifice and step down even as he expressed reservation about changing the Constitution now.
“Madame President please step down and save the Filipino people,” Lim reiterated when he asked if he regretted his previous statement and had changed his earlier stand.
Before leaving for a two-week official business trip in the United States, Lim had issued a press statement calling for President Arroyo to resign.
“I think the proposal for a constitutional change will only bring turmoil to the country, because there are pending issues that need to be resolved such as the jueteng payoff and Gloriagate tape,” Lim said.
He noted that although the impeachment proceedings against the President has started, the proceedings will take long because the legislators are still arguing on the procedures for the impeachment trial.
He said however he will favor amendments to the Constitution as long as it is clear “what specific items in the constitution need to be changed.” He added that it should not be changed in its entirety.”
Lim added there is a need to educate the people about the proposed new form of government because the masses do not really understand what federal and parliamentary form of governments are.
Lim stressed that Philippines is a democratic country so everybody is free to express his sentiment, ideas and beliefs.
“In my case, I believe that GMA should step down because she is the main cause of the country’s political crisis. I say this without malice. I am saying it because it is my conviction,” he added.
The mayor believes that the country will achieve stability if the leader, in the person of the President, performs the ultimate personal sacrifice of resigning from office.
He denied that former President Fidel V. Ramos somehow had a hand in his decision and laughed off the issue that he miscalculated the statements of the former, a well known political associate of his.
As regards his relationship with Lakas Party members, Lim said it is never wrong for a party member to express his opinion on how to resolve a national issue such as loss of credibility of a leader.
He said that the more discerning party members should appreciate such kind of act in a democratic country like the Philippines.
Lim, who is one of the original Lakas stalwarts, stressed that as a partyman, he had done his part in supporting not only the group, but also the administration candidates as can be gleaned from the result of the last election and the previous elections when he participated as a Lakas candidate. (Sunshine D. Robles)
“Madame President please step down and save the Filipino people,” Lim reiterated when he asked if he regretted his previous statement and had changed his earlier stand.
Before leaving for a two-week official business trip in the United States, Lim had issued a press statement calling for President Arroyo to resign.
“I think the proposal for a constitutional change will only bring turmoil to the country, because there are pending issues that need to be resolved such as the jueteng payoff and Gloriagate tape,” Lim said.
He noted that although the impeachment proceedings against the President has started, the proceedings will take long because the legislators are still arguing on the procedures for the impeachment trial.
He said however he will favor amendments to the Constitution as long as it is clear “what specific items in the constitution need to be changed.” He added that it should not be changed in its entirety.”
Lim added there is a need to educate the people about the proposed new form of government because the masses do not really understand what federal and parliamentary form of governments are.
Lim stressed that Philippines is a democratic country so everybody is free to express his sentiment, ideas and beliefs.
“In my case, I believe that GMA should step down because she is the main cause of the country’s political crisis. I say this without malice. I am saying it because it is my conviction,” he added.
The mayor believes that the country will achieve stability if the leader, in the person of the President, performs the ultimate personal sacrifice of resigning from office.
He denied that former President Fidel V. Ramos somehow had a hand in his decision and laughed off the issue that he miscalculated the statements of the former, a well known political associate of his.
As regards his relationship with Lakas Party members, Lim said it is never wrong for a party member to express his opinion on how to resolve a national issue such as loss of credibility of a leader.
He said that the more discerning party members should appreciate such kind of act in a democratic country like the Philippines.
Lim, who is one of the original Lakas stalwarts, stressed that as a partyman, he had done his part in supporting not only the group, but also the administration candidates as can be gleaned from the result of the last election and the previous elections when he participated as a Lakas candidate. (Sunshine D. Robles)
Photo: Dredger
City Engineer Virginia Rosario (with umbrella) supervises the launching of the city government’s new state-of-the-art dredging machine, IMS Model 5012 Versi-Dredge, which was purchased from the United States, at the mouth of the heavily silted Pantal River. With the new equipment, the city government hopes that flooding will be minimized in the city once the river is dredged and thus, increasing its absorptive capacity.VG Lambino all out for Cha-cha
MALASIQUI – Officials of Pangasinan today expressed full accord to the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the amendment of the Constitution to change the form of government from presidential-bicameral to parliamentary-unicameral system.
Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, one of the most ardent supporters of President Arroyo in Pangasinan, said it is about time to change the Constitution and the form of government in the Philippines to ensure that the country survives the various challenges for the rest of the 21st century.
Saying that the presidential system is divisive, Lambino agreed that a parliamentary system with a unicameral legislature will suit the demands of the times and will bring the Philippines to peace and prosperity.
He cited developed and developing countries with parliamentary form of government, like Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and several others.
Arguing that the country does not have the money to foot an expensive constitutional convention that will elect new faces to craft a new Constitution, Lambino said it is more practical to have the present Congress, acting as a constituent body, amend the Constitution.
Anyway, he said, whatever provisions amended by Congress, will still go through a plebiscite, in which the people can reflect their sentiment on the issue.
Lambino is also amenable to the adoption of federalism which he sees as working in favor of local government units because they will retain the largest part of revenues they collect and use this for their own operations, programs and projects.
Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, one of the most ardent supporters of President Arroyo in Pangasinan, said it is about time to change the Constitution and the form of government in the Philippines to ensure that the country survives the various challenges for the rest of the 21st century.
Saying that the presidential system is divisive, Lambino agreed that a parliamentary system with a unicameral legislature will suit the demands of the times and will bring the Philippines to peace and prosperity.
He cited developed and developing countries with parliamentary form of government, like Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and several others.
Arguing that the country does not have the money to foot an expensive constitutional convention that will elect new faces to craft a new Constitution, Lambino said it is more practical to have the present Congress, acting as a constituent body, amend the Constitution.
Anyway, he said, whatever provisions amended by Congress, will still go through a plebiscite, in which the people can reflect their sentiment on the issue.
Lambino is also amenable to the adoption of federalism which he sees as working in favor of local government units because they will retain the largest part of revenues they collect and use this for their own operations, programs and projects.
Trader shot dead in holdup
LINGAYEN – Unidentified holdup men struck again killing a businessman in barangay Baay, Lingayen Thursday afternoon and taking away P255,000 from him.
The victim, Marlon Valencia, just came from the Metro Bank branch in Poblacion, Lingayen and was driving alone in his own van when his attackers struck.
He was shot in the armpit and in the shoulders, both wounds inflicted by caliber .45 pistols.
The police theorized one or two men shot the victim. Five empty shells were recovered by investigators from the crime scene and two slugs from the body of the victim.
Investigation showed he was chased and stopped by three armed men riding tandem on a motorcycle as he was proceeding home to Socony, Bugallon.
The police found the motorcycle abandoned in barangay Baloloc. The motorcycle was believed carnapped as its plate number belonged to a motorized tricycle based on a certification from the Land Transportation Office.
The police theorized that one of the holdup men may have spotted the victim withdrawing a large sum of money from the bank’s counter and followed him from the car park.
The incident was among several incidents of robbery-holdups in Pangasinan where the victims were mostly people coming from banks.
The victim, Marlon Valencia, just came from the Metro Bank branch in Poblacion, Lingayen and was driving alone in his own van when his attackers struck.
He was shot in the armpit and in the shoulders, both wounds inflicted by caliber .45 pistols.
The police theorized one or two men shot the victim. Five empty shells were recovered by investigators from the crime scene and two slugs from the body of the victim.
Investigation showed he was chased and stopped by three armed men riding tandem on a motorcycle as he was proceeding home to Socony, Bugallon.
The police found the motorcycle abandoned in barangay Baloloc. The motorcycle was believed carnapped as its plate number belonged to a motorized tricycle based on a certification from the Land Transportation Office.
The police theorized that one of the holdup men may have spotted the victim withdrawing a large sum of money from the bank’s counter and followed him from the car park.
The incident was among several incidents of robbery-holdups in Pangasinan where the victims were mostly people coming from banks.
On hindsight, DPWH plan to raise roads was wise
IF businessmen in Dagupan City only heeded a proposal to raise the road level here by at least half a meter after the 1990 earthquake, the city’s roads would still be passable even during floods, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim said Thursday.
Lim recalled that owners of establishments here had strongly opposed the plan of the public works and highways back then to elevate the roads because their stores would be practically submerged. “I was one of those who opposed, but I now realize the importance of that proposal,” he told a radio interview.
Lim’s family owns a chain of retail stores in the downtown area.
The killer 1990 earthquake badly battered the city particularly the business district. Most buildings either tilted or sank by a feet some sinking by almost a meter.
A massive rehabilitation work on damaged infrastructures was done that included the reconstruction of the Magsaysay bridge, the two main roadlines (A.B. Fernandez and Perez Boulevard) and side streets, and the drainage system.
The roads were simply rehabilitated without elevating them.
Since that great quake, the city, which is barely above sea level, had been battered by big floods every year owing to heavy siltation of river systems that make for slower flow of excess water to the sea.
Lim said that if the road is elevated, building owners would just follow the lead and also find means to raise their establishments too. He noted that, after the quake, some owners whose buildings sank just converted their units’ second floor into ground floors, a very practical move.
Hoping to lessen the flooding problem, the city bought a dredging machine which arrived last week.The machine was immediately put to work after an orientation of city technicians on its operations. The dredger crew now operates in two shifts.
Stationed at the Pantal river, the dredger can remove up to 30 to 40 truckloads of silt per hour.
The city’s river systems, spanning about 450 hectares, are so heavily silted that it would take about eight years for the machine to do the job even if it is operated continuously for 16 hours.
If funds warrant, Lim said the city may buy one more next year.
Lim recalled that owners of establishments here had strongly opposed the plan of the public works and highways back then to elevate the roads because their stores would be practically submerged. “I was one of those who opposed, but I now realize the importance of that proposal,” he told a radio interview.
Lim’s family owns a chain of retail stores in the downtown area.
The killer 1990 earthquake badly battered the city particularly the business district. Most buildings either tilted or sank by a feet some sinking by almost a meter.
A massive rehabilitation work on damaged infrastructures was done that included the reconstruction of the Magsaysay bridge, the two main roadlines (A.B. Fernandez and Perez Boulevard) and side streets, and the drainage system.
The roads were simply rehabilitated without elevating them.
Since that great quake, the city, which is barely above sea level, had been battered by big floods every year owing to heavy siltation of river systems that make for slower flow of excess water to the sea.
Lim said that if the road is elevated, building owners would just follow the lead and also find means to raise their establishments too. He noted that, after the quake, some owners whose buildings sank just converted their units’ second floor into ground floors, a very practical move.
Hoping to lessen the flooding problem, the city bought a dredging machine which arrived last week.The machine was immediately put to work after an orientation of city technicians on its operations. The dredger crew now operates in two shifts.
Stationed at the Pantal river, the dredger can remove up to 30 to 40 truckloads of silt per hour.
The city’s river systems, spanning about 450 hectares, are so heavily silted that it would take about eight years for the machine to do the job even if it is operated continuously for 16 hours.
If funds warrant, Lim said the city may buy one more next year.
Opinion: That arrogant PSU security chief
THE PEN SPEAKS
By Danny O. Sagun
That arrogant PSU security chief
DESPITE controversies hounding the administration of the Pangasinan State University, surprise, surprise—its president is still firmly ensconced in his seat. Some say he has the “right connect” to powers-that-be that no one can ever touch him. Protests or complaints by his fellow school officials and the students appear too weak to remove him. Or, who knows, he must really be legally and technically in the right and the charges were not substantiated beyond innuendoes?
Only last Friday, the PSU again figured in a controversy, although not directly involving the university president but his security force.
A certain Ferdinand Marquez who paraded himself as the security chief barred media reporters from entering the university campus. Violy Ferrrer of Super Radyo-Dagupan and Cesar Ramirez of Philippine Star saw for themselves how arrogant and ungentleman this Marquez was when he confronted them at the main gate demanding to know what business they have at the campus.
He asked them for some sort of endorsement by anyone from the university. They identified themselves as working media persons in the province and were there to cover the event – a dialogue with House Speaker Joe de Venecia and ribbon-cutting for the new information technology center. But Marquez was unconvinced, despite the IDs they showed him. If they force themselves in, he would bodily carry them away, he threatened.
Other mediamen soon arrived and they too suffered the same indignity in the hands of that Gestapo-like security guard. With raised and threatening voice, he taunted the group by shoving and waving his ID card before the very eyes of our colleagues when they tried to peer into his ID to identify him, Violy swears. Mader Helen of Radyo ng Bayan-Dagupan, Ding Micua of PNA, Eva Visperas of Phil Star and a TV reporter also got a taste of the guard’s misbehavior. He claimed he was just doing his job the same way the reporters were doing theirs.
We can only wonder if that guard, a security chief at that, underwent basic training on human relations? Obviously, he was very much unqualified yet he got the job.
After talking to someone on the phone, apparently a superior, he allowed the TV reporter in but not the cameraman. What, a TV reporter without someone to take the shoot? Violy claims she overheard him saying to no one in particular that she and the others could be pretenders as though to justify his actions.
Only when a teacher who personally knew Helen saw what was going on and interceded for them did the guard relent and allowed them to enter.
When our turn came later, the guards took a long time lifting the pole barrier on the gate. No need for us to identify ourself though as we were using the PIA vehicle with its bold letters at the side and the media ID of boss BFH hanging and very much visible on the windshield.
The media group is preparing a protest letter to the PSU administration.
The university president was supposed to hold a presscon with the media after lunch. No one in the group remained after that. They took the chance to interview the Speaker already after touring the newly –opened P12.5 million-De Venecia Information Technology Center.
By Danny O. Sagun
That arrogant PSU security chief
DESPITE controversies hounding the administration of the Pangasinan State University, surprise, surprise—its president is still firmly ensconced in his seat. Some say he has the “right connect” to powers-that-be that no one can ever touch him. Protests or complaints by his fellow school officials and the students appear too weak to remove him. Or, who knows, he must really be legally and technically in the right and the charges were not substantiated beyond innuendoes?
Only last Friday, the PSU again figured in a controversy, although not directly involving the university president but his security force.
A certain Ferdinand Marquez who paraded himself as the security chief barred media reporters from entering the university campus. Violy Ferrrer of Super Radyo-Dagupan and Cesar Ramirez of Philippine Star saw for themselves how arrogant and ungentleman this Marquez was when he confronted them at the main gate demanding to know what business they have at the campus.
He asked them for some sort of endorsement by anyone from the university. They identified themselves as working media persons in the province and were there to cover the event – a dialogue with House Speaker Joe de Venecia and ribbon-cutting for the new information technology center. But Marquez was unconvinced, despite the IDs they showed him. If they force themselves in, he would bodily carry them away, he threatened.
Other mediamen soon arrived and they too suffered the same indignity in the hands of that Gestapo-like security guard. With raised and threatening voice, he taunted the group by shoving and waving his ID card before the very eyes of our colleagues when they tried to peer into his ID to identify him, Violy swears. Mader Helen of Radyo ng Bayan-Dagupan, Ding Micua of PNA, Eva Visperas of Phil Star and a TV reporter also got a taste of the guard’s misbehavior. He claimed he was just doing his job the same way the reporters were doing theirs.
We can only wonder if that guard, a security chief at that, underwent basic training on human relations? Obviously, he was very much unqualified yet he got the job.
After talking to someone on the phone, apparently a superior, he allowed the TV reporter in but not the cameraman. What, a TV reporter without someone to take the shoot? Violy claims she overheard him saying to no one in particular that she and the others could be pretenders as though to justify his actions.
Only when a teacher who personally knew Helen saw what was going on and interceded for them did the guard relent and allowed them to enter.
When our turn came later, the guards took a long time lifting the pole barrier on the gate. No need for us to identify ourself though as we were using the PIA vehicle with its bold letters at the side and the media ID of boss BFH hanging and very much visible on the windshield.
The media group is preparing a protest letter to the PSU administration.
The university president was supposed to hold a presscon with the media after lunch. No one in the group remained after that. They took the chance to interview the Speaker already after touring the newly –opened P12.5 million-De Venecia Information Technology Center.
Feature: Seaweeds industry thriving
Seaweeds industry thriving
By DANNY O. SAGUN
(PIA- Pangasinan)
LINGAYEN ---The seaweeds industry in five western Pangasinan towns is starting to reap dividends for the growers, the office of provincial agriculturist said Thursday.
Some 15 fisherfolk-families from the town of Dasol, Anda, Infanta, Sual and Bolinao tried their luck on the fledgling industry starting in April last year and found it viable in their areas.
In Dasol, the Eastern Osmena Fishermen Organziation started the project on a hectare using both the long line and the lantay methods. Most of their produce was replanted to expand their project and some of these were marketed during the Seaweeds Trading in Pangasinan last Feburary 20, Ugaban reported.
The Baquioen Fisherfolk Association of barangay Baquioen in Sual also embarked on the project the same month last year but in a smaller area of .019 hectare. The produce was also used for expansion and some of it marketed during the trade fair.
Two fisherfolk groups started the same project in the island town of Anda last March -- the Sablig Barangay Multi-Sectoral Association and the Macalaeng Samahang Multi-Sectoral ng Barangay – using long line method in growing seaweeds on a hectare plantation.
The Samahang Pangkalikasan ng Arnedo, Inc. in Bolinao meanwhile began its own project in January while the Los Pescadores Association of Poblacion, Infanta began theirs last only last May.
A similar seaweeds project of the Rabon Fisherfolk Association in San Fabian town which started in February was not as successful however due to problems on salinity of water, Ugaban disclosed. She clarified however that technically, the seaweeds industry in that coastal town is viable, quoting experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources.
She noted that a nearby river which empties into the Lingayen Gulf dilutes the seawater at the project site. Seaweeds need higher salinity to thrive , she observed.
A similar situation exists in other nearby coastal towns of Lingayen and Binmaley and in Dagupan City so no one has yet dared venture on the seaweeds project, said to be a booming export industry in southern Philippines.
Seaweeds are processed into several finished products such as toothpaste.
Experts noted a common disease called “ice-ice” affecting seaweeds. Poaching, fish grazing and infestation of epiphytes are the other problems confronting the industry, she said.
If successful, growers could realize some 70 metric tons per hectare in one cropping of 60 days or 280 MT annual production in four cropping (wet weight) or 40 MT (dry weight).
Selling price of seaweeds is P25 per kilo.
By DANNY O. SAGUN
(PIA- Pangasinan)
LINGAYEN ---The seaweeds industry in five western Pangasinan towns is starting to reap dividends for the growers, the office of provincial agriculturist said Thursday.
Some 15 fisherfolk-families from the town of Dasol, Anda, Infanta, Sual and Bolinao tried their luck on the fledgling industry starting in April last year and found it viable in their areas.
In Dasol, the Eastern Osmena Fishermen Organziation started the project on a hectare using both the long line and the lantay methods. Most of their produce was replanted to expand their project and some of these were marketed during the Seaweeds Trading in Pangasinan last Feburary 20, Ugaban reported.
The Baquioen Fisherfolk Association of barangay Baquioen in Sual also embarked on the project the same month last year but in a smaller area of .019 hectare. The produce was also used for expansion and some of it marketed during the trade fair.
Two fisherfolk groups started the same project in the island town of Anda last March -- the Sablig Barangay Multi-Sectoral Association and the Macalaeng Samahang Multi-Sectoral ng Barangay – using long line method in growing seaweeds on a hectare plantation.
The Samahang Pangkalikasan ng Arnedo, Inc. in Bolinao meanwhile began its own project in January while the Los Pescadores Association of Poblacion, Infanta began theirs last only last May.
A similar seaweeds project of the Rabon Fisherfolk Association in San Fabian town which started in February was not as successful however due to problems on salinity of water, Ugaban disclosed. She clarified however that technically, the seaweeds industry in that coastal town is viable, quoting experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources.
She noted that a nearby river which empties into the Lingayen Gulf dilutes the seawater at the project site. Seaweeds need higher salinity to thrive , she observed.
A similar situation exists in other nearby coastal towns of Lingayen and Binmaley and in Dagupan City so no one has yet dared venture on the seaweeds project, said to be a booming export industry in southern Philippines.
Seaweeds are processed into several finished products such as toothpaste.
Experts noted a common disease called “ice-ice” affecting seaweeds. Poaching, fish grazing and infestation of epiphytes are the other problems confronting the industry, she said.
If successful, growers could realize some 70 metric tons per hectare in one cropping of 60 days or 280 MT annual production in four cropping (wet weight) or 40 MT (dry weight).
Selling price of seaweeds is P25 per kilo.
