USAID/SURGE Project

The Puerto Princesa and Palawan Seaweed Network held its year-end organizational planning meeting on November 29, 2018 to discuss the group’s key accomplishments and planned activities for next year.

On November 29, 2018, the Puerto Princesa and Palawan Seaweed Network and the City Agricultural Office of Puerto Princesa, with technical support from USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, conducted a training on good manufacturing practices in seaweed production. Local growers from 11 barangays in Puerto Princesa City learned techniques to improve post-harvest processing practices so that they can meet consumer and export market requirements.

On November 21 to 23, 2018, Puerto Princesa City government’s Geographic Information System (GIS) team participated in a mentoring workshop on Climate Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) facilitated by USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project. CDRA is a methodology used to understand potential impacts of hazards to people and their properties. Puerto Princesa City is vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as flooding, storm surges, and landslides.

On November 20, 2018, the Puerto Princesa City Asset Management Technical Working Group (TWG) met with representatives of the Puerto Princesa City Commission on Audit (COA) and the City Registry of Deeds under the Land Registration Administration to discuss issues on procedural requirements in the acquisition and disposal of assets including delinquent properties.

On October 13, officers and representatives of the Puerto Princesa-Palawan Seaweed Network participated in the 3rd Philippine Seaweed Congress in Cebu. The congress is a national assembly of all major seaweed stakeholders in the Philippines such as growers, processing companies, traders, government agencies, and research and development institutions. As a member of the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP), the Seaweed Network had an opportunity to negotiate with various processing companies and exporters such as the MCPI Corp., TBK Manufacturing Corp., Biosolutions Intl.

On August 15 to 17, new USAID/Philippines Environment Office Deputy Chief Paul Seong and USAID/Philippines Urban Planning Specialist Marian Cruz-Navata conducted a validation visit of USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project activities in Puerto Princesa City. USAID/SURGE Component Team Lead Dr.

On July 27, USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project organized a meeting with the Puerto Princesa City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, City Government Economic and Investment Office and the Department of Trade and Industry to map out Puerto Princesa City’s vision of boosting local and international investments to improve the local economy. USAID/SURGE encouraged stronger private sector participation in expanding and diversifying investments in the city.

On July 26 to 27, USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Association of Building Officials (PABO) facilitated a workshop on streamlining building permits and certificates of occupancy system for the Puerto Princesa City government and other development partners.

On July 25, USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project assisted the Puerto Princesa-Palawan Seaweed Network facilitate a consultative planning session with its member-growers, partners from support agencies, local government units, buyers, and processors. Updates on the network’s linkages and advocacy through its partnership with the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) were discussed. USAID/SURGE facilitated in January 2018 the institutional partnership between the two organizations.

On July 10, 2018 the Building and Occupancy Permit One-Stop Shop (BPOSS) Technical Working Group led by Engr. Alberto P. Jimenez, Jr. and Engr. Rex G.