MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is optimistic that the abaca output in Lanao del Sur would hike up once rehabilitation and expansion of plantations are undertaken.
During the re-organization meeting of the Abaca Industry Roadmap Technical Working Group (AIR-TWG) on Thursday, August 11, PhilFIDA Provincial Fiber Industry Officer Armalia Abdulmanan, highlighted the need to inject life into the local industry’s supply after the province’s ranking in abaca fiber production went down from #7 in 2019 to #9 in 2020.
She said the abaca output of the province in 2019 was recorded at 3,059.81 metric tons sharing 4.4% of the total nationwide production, but it decreased to 2,092.63 metric tons or 3.4% of the total output.
“Pwede tayong makahabol na tumaas muli kung magrehab tayo at mag expansion. Yan ang dapat nating tutukan at pagtulong-tulungan,” she said.
[We can catch up and rise again if we rehabilitate and expand. That’s what we should focus on and help each other.]
On the part of the fiber development agency, Abdulmanan shared that they are implementing an Abaca Disease Management Project (ADMP) in the province to teach farmers how to stop abaca disease infestation.
She said farmers from the municipalities of Calanogas, Balabagan, Pualas, Ganassi, Binidayan, Madamba, Marogong, Lumbac Unayan, and Lumbayanague have already benefited from the ADMP. It is currently being implemented in Piagapo town.
Abaca is known worldwide as the “Manila Hemp”, with the Philippines as the top producer and exporter.
With the high demand for abaca, Abdulmanan urged members of the AIR-TWG to seize and maximize every opportunity. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
