Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Along with milkfish and tilapia, seaweed is recognized as an essential aquaculture 
resource in the country. Unlike other agriculture commodities, seaweed does not require 
any fertilizer or chemical applications to grow, making it suitable for small-scale 
aquaculture activities. Despite this advantage, only four to five species out of 1,067 
identified species were commercially farmed in the country.1  
Moreover, the Philippines has always been a major exporter of seaweed products. In fact, 
we were recognized as one of the world’s top producers of seaweed as listed by the 
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. We also export both raw (fresh or 
dried) and processed forms of seaweed in China, US, France, South Korea, and Belgium, 
among others. On top of these, seaweed farming also became a viable alternative 
source of livelihood for our fisherfolks.2 
However, seaweed farmers continue to experience losses due to extreme weather 
conditions and lack of resistance to diseases. For example, seaweed farmers from 
Central Visayas have encountered the attack of ice-ice disease that has caused 
deterioration of their plants that significantly decreased their yield and income.3 With the 
global market potential and demand for the seaweed industry, it is indeed imperative for 
the State to maximize this opportunity to develop seaweed farming, create livelihood, 
and increase our export revenues. The State must also invest in research to apply 
cost-effective farming methods for the benefit of farmers and their families in coastal 
communities. Lastly, an efficient administration and leadership to holistically address the 
concerns of the industry must also be established to maximize its market potential.  
1 https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Investment-Guide-for-Seaweeds.pdf 
2
https://www.eco-business.com/news/philippines-small-scale-women-seaweed-farmers-ride-the-rough-tide
s-of-climate-change/
3 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/06/09/seaweed-farming-face-dilemma-with-ice-ice-disease/
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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Considering these premises, this representation believes that an institutionalized body is 
needed to jumpstart these initiatives and ensure the fruition of our targets. Towards this 
end, this bill proposes the creation of the Philippine Seaweed Development Authority 
(PSDA). PSDA shall be tasked to formulate and adopt a Seaweed Industry Development 
Master Plan which aims to promote rapid and integrated growth and development of the 
seaweed industry in all of its aspects, while ensuring the provision of necessary support 
services and extension projects to our seaweed farmers and their families.   
In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is humbly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE  
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE SEAWEED DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND 
DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Seaweed 
Development Authority Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State 
to promote the rapid, integrated development and growth of the seaweed industry in all 
its aspects and to ensure that the seaweed farmers become direct participants in, and 
beneficiaries of, such development and growth. 
Consonant to this policy, the State shall ensure the development of the seaweed 
industry in accordance with the following principles: 
A. Protection from Unfair Competition. – The State shall protect small farmers from unfair 
competition such as monopolistic and oligopolistic practices by promoting a policy 
environment that provides them priority access to credit and strengthened 
cooperative-based marketing system. Any joint venture with foreign investors shall be 
consistent with the constitutional provision that at least sixty per centum (60%) of the 
investment shall be owned by Filipinos. 
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B. Global Competitiveness. – The State shall enhance the competitiveness of the 
seaweed industry sector in both domestic and foreign markets. 
 
C. Sustainable Development. – The State shall promote development that is compatible 
with the conservation of the ecosystems in areas where seaweed production activities 
are carried out. Judicious use of the country's natural resources shall be exercised to 
attain long-term sustainability. 
 
D. Poverty Alleviation and Social Equity. – The State shall ensure that the poor sectors of 
society have equitable access to resources, income opportunities, basic and support 
services and infrastructure, especially in areas where productivity is low, as a means of 
improving their quality of life. 
 
E. Rational Use of Resources. – The State shall adopt a rational approach in the 
allocation of public investments in the seaweed industry to ensure efficiency and 
effectiveness in the use of scarce resources, and thus obtain optimal returns on its 
investments. 
 
F. People empowerment. – The State shall promote people empowerment by enabling all 
citizens through direct participation or through their duty elected, chosen or designated 
representatives, the opportunity to participate in policy formulation and decision-making 
by establishing the appropriate mechanisms and by giving them access to information.  
 
SECTION 3. Creation of the Philippine Seaweed Development Authority. – To 
implement and attain the declared state policy and consistent with the principles 
enumerated above, there is hereby created the Philippine Seaweed Development 
Authority, hereinafter referred to as Authority, directly reporting to, and supervised by, the 
Department of Agriculture. 
 
SECTION 4. Principal Office. – The Authority shall maintain its administrative principal 


 
 
office in Zamboanga City and shall establish its main research and development center 
in the Province of Sulu. It may establish branches and other research or marketing 
centers in other parts of the country as may be necessary for the proper conduct of 
operations. 
 
SECTION 5. Statement of Objectives. – The Authority shall have the following 
objectives: 
A. To ensure profits and incomes in the seaweed farming, by ensuring equitable access 
to assets, resources and services, and promoting value-added processing; 
 
B. To encourage and promote people empowerment by strengthening people's 
organizations, cooperatives and non-government organizations of seaweed 
farmers and by establishing and improving mechanisms and resources for their 
participation in government decision-making and implementations; 
 
C. To pursue a market-driven approach to enhance the comparative advantage of our 
seaweed industry in the world market; 
 
D. To encourage the seaweed farming sector to continuously develop new value-added 
or processed seaweed products in order to minimize the marketing of raw, 
unfinished or unprocessed products; and 
 
E. To provide social and economic adjustment measures that increase productivity and 
improve market efficiency while ensuring the protection and preservation of the 
environment and equity for small farmers and fisherfolk. 
 
SECTION 6. Power and Function. – To carry out its objectives, the Authority shall have 
the following powers and functions: 
A. Prescribe, repeat, and amend its own by-laws; 
 
B. Formulate and adopt a Seaweed Industry Development Master Plan overcoming 


 
 
a 5-year term at a time, subject to yearly monitoring, evaluation and review; 
 
C. Establish, operate and maintain one central seaweed industrial processing plant 
and other support services within the premises of its main research and 
development center. Whenever necessary and practicable, it shall establish 
seaweed industrial processing plants in other major producing provinces geared 
toward the development of the seaweed industry. Furthermore, farmers shall be 
encouraged to partly own the processing plant in to encourage them to increase 
seaweed production; 
 
D. Encourage and promote the exportation of seaweed and its value-added products 
by establishing and undertaking measures to enforce standards for domestic 
trade and export of seaweed and seaweed products within globally acceptable 
practices and market price; 
 
E. Review, revise, align, and thereafter, integrate into the Seaweed Industry 
Development Master Plan, the existing policies, projects and activities of all other 
government agencies contributing to attainment of the objectives of the Authority; 
 
F. Institutionalize seaweed research and development devoted to improvement of 
the quality of seaweed, its adaptation to climate and environmental changes, and 
its various applications, by designating/establishing seaweed research and 
experiment stations, and sub-stations in strategic locations nationwide, as 
deemed necessary; 
 
G. The Authority shall ensure that sufficient budgetary allocation is available for the 
operations of the seaweed research and experimental stations and sub-stations 
enabling them to conduct all researches, tests and experiments needed for the 
development of the industry; 
 
H. Ensure that seaweed farmers' organizations have direct access to markets; 


 
 
 
I. Facilitate the access of farmers to credit by encouraging private lending 
institutions to provide loans at affordable interest rate; 
 
J. Receive grants from any source, domestic or foreign, public or private, in 
accordance with existing laws; 
 
K. Adopt and use a corporate seal; 
 
L. Sue and be sued; 
 
M. Have continuous succession until dissolved by law; and 
 
N. Exercise all the general powers conferred by law upon corporations as and 
incidental or conducive to the attainment of the purposes of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Board of Directors of the Authority. – The corporate powers of the 
Authority shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors herein after referred to 
as the Boards, to be composed of the following: 
A. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman; 
 
B. Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry as Vice-Chairman; 
 
C. Director, University of the Philippines-Diliman Marine Science Institute as 
Member;  
 
D. National President, League of Cities as Member; 
 
E. National President, League of Municipalities as Member; 
 
F. President, Land Bank of the Philippines (and/or other government financing 


 
 
institution/s as Member/s); 
 
G. Two (2) representatives of seaweed farmers' organization/s – one (1) representing 
Luzon; one (1) representing Visayas; and one (1) representing Mindanao, as 
Members; 
 
H. Two (2) representatives of the national organization of the seaweed processing 
and exporting sector as Members. 
 
I. The representatives of the private sector shall be appointed by the President of 
the Republic; upon recommendation of the sector they represent, and shall serve 
for a term of four (4) years. 
 
J. Only citizens of the Philippines shall be appointed Board Members of the Authority. 
In case of vacancy, the appointed successor shall serve only the unexpired 
portion of the term of his predecessor.  
 
K. The Board Directors that belong to the Government Sector may appoint their 
respective regular representatives to the Board provided these representatives 
belong to the top three (3) ranks in their respective agencies.  
 
L. The Board Directors shall meet regularly at least once every quarter or as often as 
it deems necessary. At least six (6) members shall constitute a quorum. The 
Board may be convoked by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson. The Board of 
Directors shall each receive a per diem of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10, 000.00) for 
every session attended, but in no case shall be the total thereof exceed Twenty 
Thousand Pesos (P20, 000.00) per month. 
 
SECTION 8. Powers and Duties of the Board. – The Board shall have the following 
powers and duties: 
A. Formulate and adopt policies, plans and programs and prescribe or promulgate 


 
 
such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the intent and 
provisions of this Act. 
 
B. Enter into, make and execute contracts of any kind as may be necessary or 
incidental to the attainment of the purposes of this Act. 
 
C. Approve the budget of the Authority and to determine the reasonable 
compensation of its personnel consistent with the provisions of R.A. 6758 "The 
Salary Standardization Law". 
 
D. Establish policies and guidelines for employment on the basis of merit, technical 
competence and moral character, and approve a staffing pattern of personnel 
defining their powers and duties subject to Civil Service laws, rules and 
regulations; 
 
E. Review and approve the appointment of personnel of the Authority from the rank 
of division chief or higher. 
 
F. Exercise final authority where the penalty imposed is suspension of thirty (30) 
days or more. 
 
G. Exercise such other powers as may be necessary and proper for the effective 
enforcement of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. 
 
SECTION 9. Management. – The Management of the Authority and the general conduct 
of its operations shall be vested in the General Manager who shall serve as the Chief 
Executive Officer. The General Manager shall be a natural-born Filipino citizen, at least 
thirty (30) years old, and a person of known integrity and competence in technical and 
administrative fields related to the purposes of this Act. 
 
He shall be appointed by the President of the Republic for a term of four (4) years 
and may be re-appointed once for another term. 


 
 
 
He shall receive a salary to be determined by the Board in accordance with the 
Salary Standardization Law. 
 
He shall have the following powers and duties: 
A.) Execute and administer the policies, plans, programs and rules and regulations 
approved and/or promulgated by the Board. 
 
B.) Submit for the consideration of the Board such policies, plans and programs as 
he/she deems necessary to carry out this Act. 
 
C.) Direct and supervise the operation and internal administration of the Authority, 
including imposition of disciplinary actions among the Authority's personnel. 
 
D.) Appoint or promote employees of the Authority subject to the confirmation of the 
Board. 
 
E.) Transfer, assign, re-assign employees of the Authority as the exigencies of the 
service may require and approve penalties in administrative cases involving 
suspension of thirty (30) days or more. 
 
F.) Exercise final authority on administrative cases involving personnel of the 
Authority where the penalty imposed is suspension of thirty (30) days or more. 
 
G.) Exercise such other powers as may be necessary and proper for the effective 
enforcement of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations. 
 
SECTION 10. Assistance from Other Government Entities. – The Local Government 
Units (LGUs), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the 
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and all other government agencies 
concerned shall extend the necessary assistance and support to the Authority, 
particularly by including the development of the seaweed industry in their coastal 
resource management plans and programs. 


 
 
 
SECTION 11. Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Agriculture shall, within 
ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, formulate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 12. Funding Requirement. – The initial funding requirement of the Authority 
shall be determined by the Department of Agriculture and shall be lodged against the 
Department's budget for the year following the approval of this Act. Thereafter, the 
Authority shall submit, through the Department of Agriculture, its yearly funding 
requirement for inclusion in the National Expenditure Program of the government in 
accordance with government policies, rules and regulations. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act shall be held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 14. Repeating Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamation, 
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,