Tons of ‘Samu’ seized

More than 4,000 kilos of Sargassum seaweeds, locally known as samu were seized by a special task force formed by the Capitol’s environment and natural resources office (Penro) in the town of San Remigio last Sunday.

The team led by provincial chief security officer Loy Madrigal initially confiscated 641 kilos of seaweeds owned by Benjie Mancao in sitio Baybay, barangay Tambongon in San Remigio at 10:30 a.m.

Seven employees of Mancao’s Anapog Hammer Mill were in the jeep transporting the seaweeds   from barangay Kawit, Medellin town, according to Madrigal.

Following a tip, authorities seized another 3,713 kilos of seaweed owned by couple Ramie and Jenny Sante in sitio Dawis, barangay Punta in San Remigio at 3 p.m.

He said both Ramie and Jenny work at the San Remigio municipal government. Mancao and the Sante couple presented permits from the office of town mayor Mariano Martinez.

Madrigal said both owners violated the provincial ordinance banning the harvesting, extraction of the seaweeds which is considered a habitat of certain fish species and other marine animals.

Sargassum seaweeds (Sargassum polycystum), which serve as habitat to fish and other marine species, is used as raw material in plastic and fertilizer production.

Last week, a 14-wheeler truck carrying 11,000 kilos of seaweed was  intercepted by members of the provincial government’s Bantay Dagat Sugbo.