US Ambassador witnesses Bohol
seaweed network MOU signing

TAGBILARAN CITY, December 17 (PIA)--United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim personally witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) creating the Bohol Seaweed Network (BoSNet).

Along with Kim who witnessed the MOU signing held at the Atrium of Tagbilaran City Hall on Monday afternoon were Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, Provincial Administrator Atty. Kathyrin Fe  Pioquinto, City Administrator Cathelyn Torremocha, Tagbilaran City First Lady Jane Yap and Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas.

The MOU signing between the Tagbilaran and Bohol Seaweed Growers will solidify the establishment of BoSNet which will be the venue for information exchange, dialogue, resource-mapping, and partnerships.

The United States Agency International Development and the Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (USAID-SURGE) facilitated this initiative targeting to improve the local seaweed industry in Bohol through institutional development, networking, market linkages, access to modern production and post-production technologies and practices.

The MOU organizes two cooperatives and 17 people’s organizations (POs) in Bohol which are comprised of over 1,000 individuals across Tagbilaran City and various towns into one group to improve seaweed production in the province.

It is projected to boost the development of the seaweed industry in the province and help push for programs beneficial to the sector with the assistance of the USAID-SURGE project of Tagbilaran City.

Mayor Yap cited Nasingin, an island barangay off Getafe town, as among potential growth areas for the industry promising to extend assistance by providing seedlings and nursery and post-harvest facilities such as dryers through the help of the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Kim acknowledged Tagbilaran City for its continued support for the USAID through its SURGE program.

“Thank you all for being part of our success story,” the ambassador said in a brief speech.

  

The 59-year-old envoy visited Bohol from December 15 to 16 to receive an honorary doctorate from Holy Name University (HNU).

While in Bohol, the ambassador also visited sites of cultural significance, visited a U.S. company and drug education project. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

  

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim acknowledged Tagbilaran City for its continued support for the USAID through its SURGE program during the signing of a MOU creating the Bohol Seaweed Network on Monday afternoon at the Atrium of the Tagbilaran City Hall. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)