“Dati, malawak ang area [namin], ngunit maliit po ‘yung nafa-farm dahil sa kakulangan ng puhunan. Ang puhunan po namin noon ay inuutang lamang. Minsan nga noon, premature pa ang seaweed, pero hina-harvest na para matugunan ang pagbabayad ng utang,” recalled Batangas Seaweeds Association (BASEFA) General Manager Flora Limoico as she described their previous seaweed farming situation in Calatagan.

In 2017, BASEFA, the Seaweeds Production and Marketing lead Proponent Group (PG), resorted to a “five-six” loan for their capital in seaweed farming, and half of their 500sqm water area only was utilized for planting.

With the enterprise subproject of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), 90 beneficiaries in Calatagan, Batangas now experience improved living conditions.

Data gathered from the Rapid Appraisal of Emerging Benefits (RAEB) conducted by the DA-PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon Cluster, Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) CALABARZON, and representatives from the DA Regional Field Office IV-A Planning and Monitoring Evaluation Division from March 29 – April 1, 2022, revealed that household income and seaweed market output and production volume increased.

RAEB is an evaluation tool designed to assess the impact of the implemented subprojects, especially on the emerging benefits brought to the community. This was conducted a year after its project was turned over.

Upon the implementation of the enterprise subproject, BASEFA was able to maximize the capacity of its entire water area plantation, resulting in higher profit, as compared to the pre-subproject phase.

“Ngayon ang PRDP ay nagbigay ng support, naging maayos po ang aming farming operation. Noong ibinigay po nila ‘yung farm implements at mga propagules, naging confident po ang mga farmers na hindi na po namin kailangang mag-ani agad. Ngunit ngayon, dahil sa PRDP, naging continuous ang aming pagtatanim,” Limoico said.

Before, BASEFA used to rent tricycles to haul harvested seaweeds from shore to their house at PhP150 per trip, which took them about three (3) trips. But through the provision of tricycles by the DA-PRDP, the group was able to save PhP392, as they only spent PhP58 for one (1) liter of gasoline that can be used for over three (3) trips.

However, in 2019, 75% of seaweed plantations have been destroyed due to typhoon Tisoy, thus affecting the production of the group.

Through BASEFA’s concerted effort and the surprising formation of sandbar brought by the calamity, they were able to combine seaweeds with tourism.

The group built floating cottages, with a capital ranging from PhP40,000 to PhP100,000, depending on the type and capacity, to transport tourists to various destinations in Calatagan, Batangas, such as Little Boracay, starfish sites, and snorkeling areas, while promoting their seaweed livelihood.

“Ang mga ipinampagawa po namin ng cottage ay galing sa mga kinita namin sa pagsi-seaweeds,” Limoico shared.

This agri-tourism business also benefited other players, as this generated livelihood opportunities, such as lifeguards, boatmen, docking area vendors, etc.

While the cottages are individually owned, the owners still remit a portion of their income to the association to grow their group further. Still, the seaweeds farming operation is the priority of the BASEFA members.

The Seaweeds Production and Marketing is a PhP5.9 million worth enterprise subproject under the DA-PRDP that aims to uplift and improve the quality of life of the fisherfolk in the Calatagan, Batangas through upgrading of seaweed production by providing them good quality seedlings and planting materials.  (Lea Caliuag, DA-PRDP PSO South Luzon InfoACE Unit with reports from Eli Ocial DA-PRDP RPCO CALABARZON InfoACE Unit )