TAWI-TAWI -- The national government launched a multiyear economic assistance program here Wednesday aimed at transforming the local seaweed industry into a primary driver of peace and development for the country's southernmost province.
Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr. led the ceremonial turnover of the Seaweed Economic Assistance and Government Initiative for Tawi-Tawi (SEAGIFT) at Bongao Port.
Speaking on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Lagdameo told seaweed farmers and local officials that the initiative reflects a commitment to bring meaningful development to geographically isolated and conflict-affected communities.
Lagdameo characterized the seaweed sector as a strategic platform for stability in the Bangsamoro region. He noted that seaweed farming has long sustained households and provided a dignified source of income, arguing that strengthening the industry serves as a vital peace-and-development strategy rather than a simple economic intervention.
The SEAGIFT program is a convergence of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi. The Office of the Special Assistant to the President is coordinating the national support to align with local priorities.
The initiative is designed to tackle long-standing bottlenecks in the sector, such as limited access to quality planting materials, inadequate post-harvest facilities, and weak market linkages.
Implementation will proceed in two distinct stages, beginning with a phase from 2024 to 2026 that focuses on production enhancement and capacity building. This initial stage is supported by a P44 million allocation under BFAR’s Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program.
A second phase, scheduled for 2027 through 2029, will shift toward industrial advancement, processing, and market integration. This latter stage will be led by OPAPRU in coordination with partner agencies. Lagdameo stressed that the administration envisions a future where the local industry moves beyond raw production to become a driver of job creation, especially for women and the youth.
The event concluded with the formal handover of production inputs and livelihood support to organized seaweed growers. Local leaders described the launch as a decisive step toward making Tawi-Tawi the country’s seaweed capital and a model of peace-driven economic growth.
