Ban on sale of seagrass to trigger unemployment

FILIPINO exporters expect a new government policy prohibiting the selling and export of seagrass can lead to unemployment and reduced export revenues.

Malou Balano, executive director of Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) in Region 3, said seagrass farmers and other marginalized people are dependent on such raw material for their livelihoods.

Balano said seagrass was highly recommended as a material for Philippine handicrafts.

“DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) supported this project. In fact, we have developed bags, slippers, baskets and other accessories that are being exported already,” she said.

To address the impact of ban on selling and exporting seagrass on the export sector, Balano suggested the need to identify areas where seagrass can be legally cul- tivated and harvested or monitored.

For her part, Rashmi Singh, chief executive officer at Lightworks Resources Inc., said the country produces furniture and furnishings made of seagrass.

“Would it be possible to allow the cultivation (planting and harvesting) of seagrass?” she asked.

“Most of the seagrass we are using are growing wildly as terrain species, not aquatic. Just recently, many are growing at the lahar areas, north of Manila in Zambales, Pampanga, giving us cheap raw materials,” said Dennis Orlina, president of the Asean Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (Ahpada).

Under Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 250, the Department of Agriculture banned the collection, harvesting, gathering, sale and export of brown algae and seagrass aimed at preserving marine ecosystem.