SEAWEED PRODUCTION  (Photo courtesy of BFAR-7)

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A seaweed laboratory in a marine hatchery facility in Bantayan Island will help increase fisherfolks’ production of algae used as raw material for different products, an official said on Tuesday.

Bantayan town Mayor Arthur Despi said in a statement the municipal government is thankful to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas for the P15-million funds to establish the seaweed laboratory this year.

The seaweed laboratory situated in Bantayan Island Multi-Species Marine Hatchery is aimed at increasing seaweed production by distributing quality seaweed propagules, maintaining seaweed tissue culture, and conducting research and development on seaweed.

Despi said the laboratory will assist seaweed farmers in developing and increasing the number of different types of “guso” (algae) that can be planted and harvested around the waters off Bantayan.

BFAR-7 data showed that Bantayan is one of the areas in the Philippines with many “guso” farmers.

Apart from providing more livelihood to the fisherfolk, the project will become a tourist attraction on Bantayan Island.