Leyte is taking a big step in leading Eastern Visayas into a future where technology and tradition go hand in hand. With the launch of the iSTART Project on the Development of Seaweed Stress-Biosensor and Water Quality Characterization, the province is not only addressing the longstanding problem of seaweed diseases—it is also signaling that local governance can be visionary, forward-looking, and deeply committed to the welfare of its people.
In partnership with DOST-8, De La Salle University-Manila, BFAR-8, and EVSU-Carigara Campus, the provincial government is investing in tools that could dramatically change the landscape of seaweed farming.
For decades, fisherfolk have been at the mercy of unpredictable waters, poor monitoring systems, and sudden outbreaks of seaweed disease that wipe out livelihoods overnight.
Governor Leopoldo Dominico “Icot” Petilla captured the essence of this initiative best when he emphasized that this is about safeguarding not just marine resources, but also the future of fisherfolk communities.
He is right. Seaweed farming has always been more than an economic activity—it is a lifeline for thousands of families across Leyte’s coastlines.
And the province did not stop at launching a high-tech research initiative.
On the same day, it handed over 41 units of 5-horsepower boat engines to fisherfolk leaders, a practical and immediate boost to daily livelihoods.
While the iSTART Project promises long-term benefits, these engines provide the here-and-now support that struggling fisherfolk need to keep their boats running and their households afloat.
This dual approach—supporting science while also delivering tangible aid—is exactly the kind of governance that deserves recognition.
Too often, projects are either too future-focused with little immediate impact, or too short-sighted without lasting solutions. Leyte has chosen both paths, and that balance could be the key to real progress.
Still, the success of the iSTART Project will depend on implementation.
Research must not remain confined to laboratories and reports; it has to reach the very hands of the fisherfolk who need it most. The distribution of engines shows that Leyte understands this reality: policies must always connect to the lives of people.
Leyte is betting on science, technology, and its people.
And if this momentum continues, the province could well become a model for how local governments can lead in marrying innovation with social development.
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