A NONGOVERNMENT organization (NGO) in the fisheries sector has asked the government to channel its support directly to seaweed farmers to make them more competitive against other Asian producers of seaweed.

The Tambuyog Development Center (TDC) said while it believes the government should support the seaweed industry, the support should go to the seaweed producers first.

“This support should come in terms of better farming technology to lower the incidence of seaweed diseases and to increase production from the current 3 metric tons (MT) per hectare to 7 MT per hectare.  Increased production should result in more competitive prices for local seaweeds,” said TDC executive director Arsenio Tanchuling.

TDC noted that the country’s imports of seaweeds are on the rise, with 90 percent coming from Indonesia since it is cheaper at $500 to $600 per MT as against $700 per MT produced in the country.

“The main problem is lower seaweed production in the Philippines, with a growth rate of only 2.6 percent. In contrast, Indonesia has a growth rate of 21 percent since 2001 for seaweeds,” he said.

Besides lower production, poor seaweed quality is affecting Philippine competitiveness in the world market. Philippine seaweed has a worsening moisture content in recent years from 40 percent to 45 percent due to the malpractice of salting.

There are also cases of weighing malpractice which resulted in cancellation of orders,” said TDC.

TDC said these problems could be remedied by appropriate and proper technology.

Tanchuling said the government should  also look into expanding the area for seaweed production. He said the country has about 255,000 hectares of shorelines suitable for seaweed production, but only 58,624 hectares are planted. “Of course, the higher price of the peso affects the profits of our seaweed exporters.

GOVERNMENT-RUN National Power Corp. (Napocor) said Friday that more than 100 barangays on different islands of the country were given access to electricity by the Napocor-Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) under its Electrification of 100 Barangays program and part of its mandate to provide electricity to off-grid islands through missionary electrification.

THE amount and quality of the transition supply contract to be attached to the 600-megawatt Masinloc coal power plant will help Aboitiz Power Corp. (APC), the power arm of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, determine whether it will bid for the said power generating asset of the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

THE Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) is expected to face stiff opposition once the Philippine Senate starts its deliberations as opponents of the controversial trade pact vowed to launch their campaign against its ratification.

A NONGOVERNMENT organization (NGO) in the fisheries sector has asked the government to channel its support directly to seaweed farmers to make them more competitive against other Asian producers of seaweed.

THE Quezon City government, the richest among local government units (LGUs) in terms of collection and surplus, will not increase taxes during the fresh three-year term of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.