CALITUBAN IS., Talibon –Vice-Governor Julius Caesar Herrera dispelled fears on reports that foreigners, particularly the Koreans, are out to possess areas planted to seaweeds here.

 “ It's not true that non-Filipinos are to grab or own seaweeds farms in this island-barangay,” Herrera told the Bohol Provincial Seaweed Farmers Producers Cooperative (BPSFPC) during an island hopping last week.

The vice-governor was responding to queries of seaweed farmers during his visit in this island where he turned over a check worth P100,000 as he promised to help develop the multi-million dollar seaweed industry. Elesio Betinol, board chairman of the cooperative raised the question, saying they were told that Koreans are interested to develop the area for seaweeds.  He said that the farmers have already switched to seaweed farming because they have realized that illegal fishing methods is risky and destructive. He admitted that he was into dynamite fishing before. And now that they are at ease with their new-found source of livelihood, they are now threatened with the said report.

“ Sakit kaayo na vice-gov nga ilogon ang among farms. Gusto na ta mo -divert sa mga pangita. Di na ta nianang panero. Ako sige kong panero sa una. Di na ko. Nananum na lang ko sa goso. Kini na karon ang atong gikabuhian.” (I want to divert my livelihood. I already stopped dynamite fishing as I used before. Now I am farming seaweeds as my livelihood), Betinol, a former teacher, said. Herrera said there might have been a miscommunication in this regard, explaining that “non-Filipino citizens cannot own our natural resources. Only the Filipinos like us can do. They are just helping Boholanos put the seaweed industry in place from the grant that their government extended,” he added.

The vice-governor assured the cooperative members not to worry because the province will help and protect them. If that (foreigners to develop farm as their own) will happen, “Ako mismo ang mobarog para ninyo. Dili na pwede. Ang inyong panginabuhian atong proteksyonan. Ako mismo di ko mosugot nga ang inyong kadagatan kuhaon sa Koreano, ” Herrera said. Herrera said that Koreans are here in Bohol to help develop the industry. And if possible Bohol would convince them to put up some kind of a processing plant in the province. The vice-governor has also set foot to island barangay Guindakpan of this town where he met with captain Romulo Pendon to hand over a check of P20,000 prior to proceeding to Calituban. Both cooperative and Guindakpan folk thanked Herrera for the windfall. (RVO)