Alfredo O. Isidro, seaweed and aquaculture deveopment advisor to growth with equity in Mindanao (GEM), reveals that high production cost, transport, hauling, shipping, and marketing services brought about oil price increases haunt the sector. On the other hand, SIAP president beason c. Dakay laments that the peso appreciation has adversely affected the supply and demand of seaweed in the market.
               
                 Philippine seaweed sells for US S 1000 per metric ton while that of Indonesia costs US S 700. Although the selling price for the seaweed exports is expensive, the buying price for the raw dried seaweed is cheap. Raw seaweed is pegged at P 27 per kilo. The cheap price has disappointed many seaweeds firmers dome of them to abandon seaweed farming and resort to move profitable produce.

                  The philppines, being one of the top seaweed producers in the world, certainly needs to shape upgrowers need to unite as a group to command better prices. Seaweed traders, and processors have to come up with a set of plans that may include of financial provision of financial support, and marketing assistance to promote the industry.

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