Tubod, Lanao del Norte – 40 year-old Menchi Taib and her husband have been farming seaweed for close to 10 years now. And from their seaweed income, they have been able to put their children through college and managed to live a more comfortable life compared to when they were still fishing.



“We were able to buy some appliances like TV, ref, DVD player and even a videoke for my husband”, attested Mrs. Taib.



In Brgy. Manga alone, in the municipality of Kolambugan, majority of its 977 residents are now farming seaweeds.



“The income we get from farming seaweed is so much bigger than what we’re used to during our fishing days”, seaweed farmer Roselyn Alegre said.



To boost this thriving industry, the provincial government together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are aggressively implementing the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in the coastal towns of Tubod and Kolambugan, both in this province.



The positive impact of its initial seaweed distribution last October 2009 encouraged the Provincial Agriculture Office to increase the number of beneficiaries per barangay from 25 families to 75 families.



DOST has already released P800,200 for the expansion of the project to accommodate the additional 300 new beneficiaries.



Scheduled for distribution starting November 23 to December 3, 2010 are the barangays of Simbuco, Manga, Tabigue, Mukas, Pigcarangan, and Tanguegueron.



Each of the beneficiaries will receive 100 kilos of seaweed seedlings and two rolls of soft ties. Beneficiary-barangays will also be receiving two solar dryers under the livelihood program.



“We are very thankful to Governor Khalid Dimaporo for his continued support to the seaweed growers here in our province”, Brgy. Manga chairman Mercidic Tulabing expressed. VNL/PIO-LDN