Exploring to convert the fruits of their labor into another form of income, seaweeds farmers from the Batangas Seaweeds Association (BASEFA) use 28 floating cottages for tourism, through the help of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

Built in January 2019, the floating cottages are aimed to transport tourists to various destinations in Batangas, while also promoting their livelihood through their seaweeds farm. According to BASEFA General Manager Flora Limoico, the project is a combination of their income earned from seaweeds, and the support from the DA-PRDP.

“Ang mga ipinagpagawa namin ng cottage ay galing sa mga kinita namin sa pagsi-seaweeds. Tamang-tama, maganda rin ang presyo ng seaweeds noong dumating ang DA-PRDP, kaya madali kaming nakaipon,” she said.

For BASEFA, the floating cottages can be used to transport tourists to regular destinations such as Little Boracay, white sand bars, starfish sites, and snorkeling areas, as well as their very own seaweeds farm.

Limoico added that members can accompany the tourists and present on-site the role, benefits, and uses of seaweeds, as well as purchase and eat seaweeds while in the cottage. For BASEFA, international travelers and students are the most common tourists that avail the added itinerary to the seaweeds farm.

“Sobrang amazed sila, lalo na ang mga estudyante kapag binabanggit namin kung saan ba ginagamit ang mga seaweeds. Natutuwa silang malaman na ang seaweeds pala ay ginagamit sa gatas, hotdogs, gamot, at body lotion. Nagkakaroon sila ng appreciation at awareness sa mga ginagawa namin. May iba pa nga na nag-uuwi ng seaweeds sample na sila mismo ang kumukuha,” Limoico added.

Including lectures during the visit is also one way for the members of BASEFA to inform people of the importance of marine conservation to support healthy seaweeds farms, as well as the economic and social benefits coming from this commodity.

While the cottages are individually owned, the owners still remit a portion of their income to the association to grow their group further. The association helps them in marketing their services in different beaches and resorts located in Calatagan.

Still, their seaweeds farming operation is the priority of the members, especially the tourism activities that have been closed by the local government due to COVID-19 pandemic. Even with lockdowns, they can continue growing and selling their produce to their buyers.

“Itong pagtatanim ng seaweeds ang patuloy na sumasalba sa amin ngayong pandemya. Nagpapasalamat kami dahil mayroon pa ring bumibili sa amin,” Limoico said.

No members of BASEFA had stopped planting seaweeds during the pandemic. Aside from the enterprise supported by the DA-PRDP, the group is being supported by the local government and other government agencies.BASEFA continues to see their future with seaweeds. According to them, even if they diversify to include other sources of income, they will continue and make the seaweeds industry in Calatagan prosper.  (Elijah Jeudi Ocial, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)