𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝟖 𝐄𝐏𝐒𝐃𝐏 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐡𝐩𝟕𝐌 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬; 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬

Tacloban City- More than Php7.8 million worth of seaweed farm implements were distributed to 500 seaweed farmers in Dawahon Island, Bato, Leyte through the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (EPSDP) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 8 in June 2025.

The Dawahon Seaweed Farmers Association (DASEAFA) expressed their gratitude for the continued support of the Bureau and other National Government Agencies (NGAs), which helped them achieve more than a 500% increase in production this year compared to last year.

Each seaweed farmer received steel bars, PE ropes, PE twine, and Styrofoam boxes necessary for the establishment and maintenance of seaweed farm structures and for efficient post-harvest handling.

This year is set to be a productive one for seaweed farmers, as the Department of Agriculture has pledged substantial support for the further development of the seaweed industry in the country. Dawahon Island—recognized as the top seaweed-producing area in Eastern Visayas—now aims to restore its multi-million peso production levels, a bold aspiration following the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

To date, the island has recorded 18.12 metric tons (MT) of seaweed production in its 336 hectares of seaweed farms. This notable output reflects the dedication of local seaweed farmers and the impact of sustained government interventions. With continuous capacity-building, provision of farm inputs, and improved market linkages, Dawahon Island is steadily regaining its status as a major contributor to the region’s seaweed industry.