|
Friday, August 23, 2002
ESPINOZA: Intramurals at seaweed national convention
By Fred C. Espinoza
STORMY MEET. As the third Seaweed National Convention nears, it would not be a surprise to see some industry players become less optimistic about the capability of the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (Siap) to lead the association out of the yearly intramurals that somehow rock the convention during electoral proceedings.
It could be because of the stormy Siap national convention last year that is still fresh in their minds. It was also made clear earlier that they would not stomach another display of a fragmented organization of seaweed producers in the country during the convention on Sept. 3-5.
But my good friend Pete Borja sounded very bullish about the outcome of the convention. In a message, he said the focus would be on “Seaweed Enhancing Partnership for a Better World.”
Although I’d like to believe him, some sectors in the industry feel that the country has yet to see Siap leaders run the organization like a well-oiled money machine. Other observers also pointed out that there is so much factionalism in the industry. Some even bewailed that politics has been allowed to seep into the organization. “You should bear in mind that during the term of deposed president Joseph Estrada, a carrageenan producer in Zamboanga was operating without a water treatment facility with the organization doing nothing about it,” he said.
LIVELIHOOD. The press release also said that the national government, Siap, the Marinalg, the international seaweed processors association, as well as the local and foreign academe, US seaweed carrageenan experts and seaweed-based entrepreneurs would also take part in the discussion on almost every aspect of alginates, agar-agar, eucheuma-based semi-refined as well as the refined carregeenan
While we feel that one of the thrusts of the convention should be to make these Philippine-grown agar-agar and alginates into a profitable source of livelihood for the country’s marginal fishermen and seaweed farmers, we have yet to see the benefits trickle down to these people and the rural communities they live in. The last time the President spoken enthusiastically about seaweeds and carrageenan was on television’s public service program “May Gloria ang Bukas Mo” prior to the cancellation of the show.f
One could only wonder how the benefits of technological advancement in the processing of seaweeds over the years could ever filter down to the poor farmers when the leaders in the industry are still at each other’s throats, trying to outdo one another when they should be comparing notes with government leaders on how to spread the social benefits of the industry.
With this thought alone, one would still doubt the claim of industry leaders to make the seaweed industry a deserving ally in the administration’s task of creating a million new jobs this year As usual, we expect a big participation from the farmers and processors in the coming convention because they will be voting for a new set of Siap officials to chart the future of the industry. Siap has invited President Arrroyo to keynote the confab. The convention will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug.
PLANE FEAR. I hope the management of Philippine Airlines and the Bureau of Air Transport can expedite their investigation on the case in which four tires of a modern PAL plane exploded upon landing at the Mactan International Airport the other day, and come up with safeguards to quiet the fears of plane passengers.
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
