Seaweed farming is a lucrative source of income for coastal communities. Within six weeks, families can already harvest seaweeds grown in lines they set up in shallow waters.
In northern Palawan, Tanging Yaman Foundation has been financing seaweed farming of families whose livelihoods were devastated by Super Typhoon Odette. The project is managed by the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay.
In February and July this year, a total of 224 families in Brgy Calawag, Taytay, Palawan received rolls of rope and straw super twine worth almost P7,000 for growing three kinds of seaweeds: eucheum spinosum and the more expensive eucheuma cottonii and kappaphycus alvareii. Local buyers in Taytay sell the produce in Puerto Princesa City, but there are also buyers who come all the way from Cebu who export these to international markets.
Maraming salamat to the Sto Padre Pio Mission Station in Calawag, and Fr Ed Pariño's team in the vicariate's Social Action Center.