Mindanao a potential investment hotbed for abalone, says expert

05/31/10 - DAVAO CITY—The abalone industry could flourish in Mindanao due to locations suitable for growing the tropical shelled species, a high-value aquaculture product.

“Mindanao could potentially produce a lot of abalone due to favorable sites, weather, and availability of seaweeds,” said Vincent Encena II, an abalone specialist from the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD) a research and development institution based in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

Considered a delicacy in Asia, the abalone is a single-shelled, herbivorous marine mollusk found under rocks and coral rubble and is known for its sweet, firm meat.

Encena said Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur and the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) particularly Tawi Tawi and Sulu group of islands, where tropical abalone wild stocks may be found, are potential areas for prospective abalone farms.

Encena also mentioned that Siargao Island, Sarangani province and Gen San, with its numerous tuna canning facilities, have the biggest potential areas for abalone growing and processing, respectively. The average abalone production capacity of the identified potential Mindanao areas range from 10 to 50 tons per year, Encena said.

According to Encena, these potential abalone sites have available areas for sea-based farms and access to processors and major abalone markets. These areas are also rich in seaweeds, the staple feed to abalone.

The tropical abalone species found in Southern Japan to northern Australia is the donkey’s ear abalone, Haliotis asinina, locally known as “lapas” in Cebuano or “sobra-sobra” in Ilonggo.

Encena said that canned abalone is one of the preferred product forms in the Chinese market, which is the biggest market for abalone in the world. Each can of abalone may be sold for 750 to 800 pesos per can in the local market and more if sold in the export market, he added.

He said that while a container load of canned tuna is valued at 40,000 US dollars, the same container load of canned abalone would value at around 390,000 US dollars.

However, Encena said that wild stocks of abalone in the Philippines are in decline, due to unregulated harvests and overfishing. He said abalone needs to be farmed or cultured for the future need of the processing industry.

Since most of the tuna canneries in GenSan are not operating fully due to the lack of raw material for canning like tuna, a processing line for abalone may be incorporated in the tuna cannery line with minimum investment, Encena suggested. He added that it was a way for overhead expenses on tuna canneries to be reduced and a high-value canned product, other than tuna, to be produced.

“Mindanao must conduct a more thorough assessment of sites with potential for abalone culture,” he said.

Encena said commercial-scale abalone hatchery and commercial-scale abalone demo-farm must be established for prospective abalone sites in Mindanao to succeed. He added that value-added products from abalone meat should be studied.

The Philippines, in 2006 was the top exporter of frozen abalone to Hong Kong, with around 30 percent, while Australia got around 23 percent of the frozen market. Philippine abalone products are also exported to Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Singapore.

In a presentation made by Encena during the Bimp-Eaga High Value Aquaculture Business Conference held in General Santos City last month, Encena showed the value of world abalone market is pegged at 1 billion US dollars. However, demand for abalone has temporarily decreased due to global economic downturn.

The business conference was aimed at increasing and expanding private enterprises on high-value aquaculture in Bimp-Eaga through the active promotion of joint ventures between and among Eaga members, investment and trading, and export of high-value seafood to target markets.

Encena said that Bimp-Eaga must adopt a unified approach in terms of abalone development in the region through stock assessment of abalone and seaweed, assessment of suitable sites, abalone breeding and culture centers.

He recommended a Bimp-Eaga marketing strategy for various product forms of abalone such as abalone congee and abalone in different sauces and look at non-traditional markets like Europe and the US. (MEDCo)

Mindanao potential top abalone producer

05/30/10 - DAVAO CITY -- Abalone, an edible mollusk lined with mother-of-pearl, could flourish in Mindanao due to its warm seas and could potentially become its high-value aquaculture product.

Vincent Encena II, specialist of Iloilo-based Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD), said Mindanao could cultivate abalone due to favorable sites, weather and availability of seaweeds.

He identified Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), particularly Tawi-tawi and the Sulu group of islands, where tropical abalone wild stocks may be found and are potential areas for prospective abalone farms. Encena also mentioned that Siargao Island, Sarangani province and General Santos City, with their numerous tuna-canning facilities, have the biggest potential areas for abalone growing and processing.

Abalone, a shallow ear-shaped shell and pierced with respiratory holes, is considered a delicacy in Asia. It thrives under the rocks and coral rubble and is known for its sweet firm meat.

Encena said canned abalone is one of the preferred product forms in the Chinese market, which is the biggest market for abalone in the world. Abalone may be sold for P750 to P800 per can in the local market and more if sold in the export market, he added. He said while a container load of canned tuna is valued at $40,000, the same container load of canned abalone would have a value of around $390,000. (Manila Bulletin)

Arroyo inaugurates new road providing link to Siargao airport

05/23/10 - DEL CARMEN, Surigao del Norte - A new road project that links to a newly-constructed airport has been inaugurated in Siargao island on Friday, helping boost tourism in what is considered as an international surfing and fishing hub in the country.

The P152 million Dapa-Del Carmen road project was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was accompanied by a small entourage of officials, including Surigao del Norte Congressmen Francisco Matugas and Guillermo Romarate Jr.

The inauguration took place after the President, onboard a Philippine Air Force helicopter, visited the P92-M Sayak International Airport Development Project in the area.

During the visit, the chief executive held a discussion with local officials about the Sayak International Airport building whose construction is still ongoing.

Arroyo and her entourage were also welcomed at the Sayak airport by mayors of the island’s nine towns, some Caraga regional directors and spouses of Congressmen Matugas and Romarate who both won the recently concluded May 11 polls as Governor and Board Member respectively.

Caraga is a special administrative region composed of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

After the Sayak airport visit, President Arroyo and entourage proceeded to Del Carmen town proper to inaugurate the almost eight kilometer road construction and concreting of Dapa-Del Carmen road at Barangay Cancohoy as part of the airport road connection.

The President also did an inaugural drive-thru near the Cancohoy-Sayak Airport road with some cabinet and DPWH officials headed by Secretary Victor Domingo, DPWH Regional Director Evelyn T. Barroso, among others.

Barroso claimed that some of the Siargao Island Infra projects started late 2008 and are targeted to be completed before President Arroyo steps down in June.

After lunch, President Arroyo and entourage is expected to fly to Zamboanga for official visit and inauguration of vital projects there. - (GMANews)

PGMA set to inspect, inaugurate P152-M Sayak Airport development project

Dapa, Siargao Island (14 May) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to inaugurate and inspect today the P152-million Sayak Airport Development Project (SADP) at Dapa town, Siargao Island.

Surigao del Norte solon Rep. Francisco T. Matugas said the Chief Executive will inspect some of the facilities at the P92-million Sayak Airport and inaugurate the 7.397-kilometer Dapa-Del Carmen road that also connects the new airport, with a total project cost of P152 million.

He also said Mrs. Arroyo, accompanied by nine municipal mayors and their respective local officials, will have an inaugural drive-thru near the Dapa-Cancohoy Road-Section part of the Sayak Airport.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Dr. Evelyn T. Barroso said the Sayak Airport Development Project was funded under the DPWH regular infrastructure fund.

Some of the projects started late 2008 and are targeted to be completed before President Arroyo steps down in June.

Rep. Matugas said in the inspection and inauguration of the SADP projects, the President will also be accompanied by some Cabinet officials led by Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo.

Mrs. Arroyo will be welcomed here by Dapa Mayor Peter "Boy" Ruaya and Del Carmen Mayor Bully Navarro.

Matugas said this SADP project is a big boost to the tourism industry in the province. "More tourists, both foreign and domestic mean more income and employment to our locality," he said.

This Siargao Island is already known as the "international surfing and "international fishing hub" the past five years, it was gathered. (MUC/PIA-Caraga)

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