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Processing plant for seaweeds to rise in Sarangani
Allen V. Estabillo
Several investors are reportedly planning to establish a processing plant for seaweeds at a proposed economic zone in the coastal town of Maasim in Sarangani province.
Maasim Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr. said that a group of private investors are now looking at the feasibility of putting up a seaweed processing plant in the area, which has been identified by the government as a seaweed production zone.
Lopez did not give the specific details of the proposed project but declared it as "one of the biggest investments lined up this year in this municipality."
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the local government earlier launched a P6-million seaweed nursery farm project in barangay Tinoto, Maasim as part of their bid to develop Sarangani as the next seaweed capital in the country.
Financed by the Quedan Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor), the seaweed project has initially benefited 120 members of two fisherfolk organizations who were each given P50,000 worth of inputs for seaweed production.
The municipal government has allowed the use of the town's municipal waters for the aquaculture project, which aims to produce export quality seaweed.
Lopez said the proposed seaweed processing plant will become the primary market of the local seaweed farmers.
"Our goal is to bring our seaweeds directly to the markets already processed to add greater value to the product," he said.
Lopez said that aside from the seaweed processing plant, an investor also vowed to look at the possibility of putting up a processing plant for banana chips.
The provincial government of Sarangani earlier laid out a plan to establish an economic zone at the coastlines of Barangay Tampat in Maasim, patterned after the development of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Zambales.
One of the major targets of the provincial government is to build a modern seaport at the project site that would hopefully facilitate trade exchanges between local traders and those in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Lopez said the local government and residents will exert all efforts to help these projects materialize as soon as possible.
"The key here is maintaining peace and order. Maasim now is a peaceful area and investors are now confident to pour in their capital here," he said.
Lopez cited the successful opening of a P100-million pineapple plantation in barangay Amsipit, which has transformed from being a hotbed of communist and Moro insurgency into a fast growing agribusiness zone.
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