Three seaweed farming associations in remote communities in Balabac have received propagules, production materials and agricultural inputs from the Palawan provincial government to support their farms and livelihoods.
The assistance was distributed from August 12 to 14 in Sitios Segampal and Matangule in Barangay Bancalaan and Sitio Bahayan in Barangay Sebaring.
The recipients were the Segampal Bancalaan Seaweeds Farmers Association, Matangule-Marabon Seaweeds Farmers Association and Bahayan Multipurpose Livelihood Association.
Aside from seaweed farming materials and propagules, the Provincial Agriculture Office provided the groups with agricultural inputs intended to help them expand production.
Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines also supplied empty plastic bottles that the associations can use as floaters for their seaweed farms.
The distribution formed part of the third batch of KANEGOSYOPA, or Kagamitang Negosyong Pangkabuhayan, a livelihood assistance program managed by the Livelihood Project Management Unit under the Office of the Governor.
The beneficiaries attended an orientation before receiving the materials. A representative of the General Services Office also inspected the equipment distributed to the associations.
LPMU Program Manager Roque S. Dela Peña led the activity with the Provincial Agriculture Office, headed by Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Reniel Z. Rocaberte, and the Balabac Municipal Agriculture Office.
The municipal government led by Mayor Shuaib J. Astami also supported the distribution, along with Bancalaan Barangay Captain Madsaik A. Janabbil and Sebaring Barangay Captain Edres P. Hassan.
The provincial government did not state how many individual farmers would benefit, how much assistance was distributed or the quantity of propagules and equipment given to the associations.
The seaweed assistance falls under Gov. Amy Roa Alvarez’s PALAWAN+PLUS Development Agenda and its CareGov component, which focuses on bringing government support closer to communities.
PALAWAN+PLUS serves as the provincial administration’s policy framework for health care, education, livelihood opportunities, digital connectivity and infrastructure. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation among the provincial government, municipalities and barangays.
