MAFAR breaks ground for the construction of worth 4.97-M seaweeds buying station in Tawi-Tawi

TAWI-TAWI – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform through the Engineering Section broke ground on Thursday, May 19, 2022, to construct a worth 4.97-M seaweeds buying station in Barangay Tongsibalu, Municipality of Sibuto.

Chief of Engineering Section Engr. Ashnairah A. Abdullah said the project was given to the Integrated Farmers and Seaweeds Traders Marketing Cooperative, comprising 330-square meters of Buying and Packaging Station and an 81-square-meters area of the solar dryer.

This project will ensure proper and safe storage of Raw materials Dried Seaweeds (RDS) products and improve their quality through sorting and re-drying at the solar provided.

“Targeted for completion within 5-months, the facility can capacitate 70 metric tons or 1,000 sucks of RDS seaweeds,” said Engr. Abdullah.

Hon. Alshefa J. Pajiji, Municipal Mayor of Sibuto, thanked the Bangsamoro Government through MAFAR for choosing their municipality to have the said project.

“We believe that this project will help uplift the socio-economic condition of the seaweeds farmers and fisherfolks and increase seaweeds productivity in the town,” Hon. Pajiji emphasized.

Moreover, the Focal Person for the Seaweeds Development Program Engr. Rene A. Regaspi, OIC MMO of Sibuto Municipality Radzmil A. Assi, Engr. Abdulhaq B. Gayak, Engr. Burhanudin S. Nandu, Engr. Kiram G. Solaiman, Jr., and other MAFAR officials were present during the groundbreaking ceremony.