In October 2009, seaweed farming started in Lanao del Norte, and it is becoming popular. Many market scenes are now paying attention to seaweed farming because it gives supplemental earnings to the local communities of the province.
To gain economic development in the province, the government of Lanao del Norte and the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) are insistently implementing the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in the coastal towns of Tubod and Kolambugan. The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) motivated the people of Lanao del Norte to enlarge the number of beneficiaries per barangay from the last count of 25 to 75 families. An amount of P800,200 was given by DOST for the development of the project and fort the additional 300 new beneficiaries. Last Tuesday, the distribution of 100 kilos of seaweed seedlings and two rolls of soft ties had begun in the coastal villages of Simbuco, Manga, Tabigue, Mukas, Pigcarangan, and Tanguegueron. It ended last December 3. The beneficiary also received two solar dryers under the livelihood program. Mrs. Menchi Taib, 40 years old, and her husband have been farming seaweed for 10 years. And from their seaweed income, their children had finished college and live comfortably compared to fishing.
We were able to buy some appliances like television, ref, DVD player, and even a videoke for my husband, said Taib. In Barangay Manga in Kolambugan, 977 residents are now seaweed farmers. According to Roselyn Alegre, their income from farming seaweed is higher than during their fishing days. [via mb.com.ph]