A collaborative initiative to expand Palawan’s “blue economy” was held in Puerto Princesa City on October 12, 2023, gathering experts and representatives from local government units, academia, and the private sector. The consultation workshop, organized by the MIMAROPA Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee (RRDIC) through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) MIMAROPA’s Provincial Science and Technology Office in Palawan, focused on identifying sustainable growth opportunities within the region’s mariculture sector.
Moderated by Engr. Pacifico T. Sariego III, the event welcomed a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) MIMAROPA, the Provincial Government of Palawan, Palawan Innovation Lab, PPS Innovations, Western Philippines University, and Palawan State University. Representatives from the private sector, such as Samahang Mangingisda Kontra Korapsyon and Project Zacchaeus, also joined the conversation, alongside agriculture technicians, municipal agriculturists, and Office of the Municipal Agriculture (OMA) staff from nine Palawan municipalities—Aborlan, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Dumaran, Linapacan, Narra, Quezon, Roxas, and San Vicente.
The workshop centered around unlocking mariculture opportunities within Palawan’s “blue economy,” which, according to the World Bank, is the promotion of the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, job creation, and ecosystem preservation. Discussions highlighted the challenges faced in mariculture and explored innovative solutions in research and development, specifically focusing on the region’s top three commodities: seaweeds, lobsters, and milkfish.
Through this collective consultation, stakeholders pinpointed priority mariculture commodities for each municipality and mapped out strategies to strengthen local blue economy efforts through research, development, and collaborative action.
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[This article is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 8, 11, 12, 14, & 15]
Photo Credit: DOST-PSTO