Tawi-Tawi, Philippines – A Mindanao-wide Seaweed Value Chain Analysis (VCA) Inception Workshop commenced today in Tawi-Tawi, bringing together key stakeholders to update the region’s seaweed industry assessment and identify priority interventions for its development.
The VCA, a scientific tool utilized by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) through its I-PLAN Component, aims to enhance value creation along the supply chain while ensuring the equitable distribution of benefits among industry players. It examines both vertical and horizontal linkages in the supply chain to determine necessary support mechanisms for improved productivity, processing, and market access.
The value chain approach plays a crucial role in formulating the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP), a strategic guide for prioritizing interventions that bolster the industry. It ensures the efficient allocation of government resources, directing funds to identified priority programs while encouraging public-private partnerships to sustain agricultural investments.
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Provincial Director Aidarus I. Nami, Ed.D., highlighted the significance of updating the VCA, particularly for Tawi-Tawi—one of the country’s top seaweed-producing provinces.
“We hope this activity will provide valuable insights on how to strengthen the seaweed industry not just in BARMM but across the country,” Nami stated. “The VCA is an essential tool that will help us conserve marine resources, ensure food security, and uplift the lives of our seaweed farmers. We sincerely appreciate DA-PRDP for initiating this effort.”
Project Support Office (PSO) Mindanao I-PLAN Component Head Elden Karl Requilme emphasized the necessity of an updated VCA for effective project implementation under DA-PRDP.
“We cannot implement a project without an updated VCA and Commodity Investment Plan,” Requilme stressed. “Industries evolve, and we need to adapt to these changes so we can incorporate necessary interventions and projects into our investment plan. This is a collaborative effort, which is why we have BFAR and other key partners on board to ensure we deliver a comprehensive VCA within the specified timeline.”
The first day of the workshop featured a series of technical discussions, beginning with an overview of Climate-Resilient Agro-Industry Oriented Value Chain Analysis by PSO Mindanao Planning Officer Shiela May M. Ibasco. BARMM Planning Specialist Elsie Omandam then presented the current state of the seaweed industry, followed by Planning Specialist Chrishyl Ann P. Bilbao, who led a session on reviewing the value chain map and product form scoping.
Further enriching the discussion, Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Development, and Extension Prof. Richard N. Muallil, Ph.D., shared key findings from Subcomponent 1.2 on seaweed research. Additionally, Ryan Edica from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National discussed the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (BFAR-EPSDP), outlining strategic plans for expanding and improving the country’s seaweed sector.
The four-day workshop, running from March 18-21, 2025, gathers participants from all six Mindanao regions (Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and BARMM), alongside BFAR representatives, regional seaweed focal persons, and BFAR Region 9 Regional Director Al-zath K. Kunting, RFP.
With experts, policymakers, and stakeholders collaborating, the updated Seaweed VCA is expected to pave the way for stronger industry support, increased investments, and improved livelihoods for seaweed farmers in Mindanao.
