Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, AND HON. 
TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to create the Philippine Seaweed Development Authority to establish, operate 
and maintain one central seaweed industrial processing plant and other support services 
within the premises of its main research and development center, as well as 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. 
Along with milkfish and tilapia, seaweed is recognized as an essential aquaculture resource 
in the country. It has always been a part of our Filipino cuisine, culture and medicine for 
centuries. Unlike other agricultural commodities, seaweed does not require any fertilizer or 
chemical applications to grow, however, despite this advantage, only four to five species out 
of 1,067 identified species were commercially farmed in the country. Unbeknownst to 
everyone, seaweed is used in the production of dairy products such as ice cream and yogurt, 
processed meat, and as a plant-based alternative.  
The Philippines is a major exporter of seaweed products globally through the Department of 
Agriculture’s Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (EPSDP). For FY 2025, 
the program aims to strengthen and increase seaweed production across regions to maintain 
its position as the leading seaweed producer. 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. 
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that in 2023, the seaweed industry produced 
around 1.6 million metric tons of fresh seaweed that amounted to a total value of P12.7 billion 
pesos. The potential of this industry to our economic development is apparent, which justifies 
the need for the creation of the Philippine Seaweed Development Authority (PSDA). However, 
this does not mean that we do not face challenges with this industry. Our seaweed farmers 
are the most affected sectors by these challenges such as 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. 
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, 
August 7, 2025
3:11 pm
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an efficient administration and leadership to holistically address the concerns of the industry 
must also be established to maximize its market potential. 
 
Considering these premises, this representation believes that an institutionalized body is 
needed to jumpstart these initiatives and ensure the fruition of our targets. The 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. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
         HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE    
    
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, AND HON. 
TERRY L. RIDON 
AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE SEAWEED DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND 
DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Seaweed Development 
Authority Act". 
SEC. 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.
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
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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 hereinafter 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,