MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) in the province has reorganized the provincial Abaca Industry Roadmap Technical Working Group (AIR-TWG) on Thursday, August 11, to lead in the crafting of a roadmap to boost the abaca industry further and improve the livelihood of abaca farmers in Lanao del Sur.
The Abaca Roadmap is a five-year plan that sets the direction of the abaca industry in the province including strengthening abaca production to make it more competitive in the international market, market matching, and provision of skills training and livelihood to farmers, producers, and traders.
Mautante Marohombsar, MTIT chief trade industry development specialist said, the province had an Abaca roadmap before but some of the plans were not implemented because of the Marawi siege, the transition from ARMM to the Bangsamoro government, and the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said there is a need to reformulate the said roadmap to take into consideration the changing environment, technology, and the increasing demand for abaca in the world market.
Marohombsar also underscored the importance of convergence among the different ministries and agencies and abaca stakeholders to push the industry forward.
He said the MTIT could not do it alone since its mandate is primarily focused on marketing, not on agricultural production or technical writing.
“With this meeting, we do hope we can formulate ng isang makabuluhang roadmap na pwede nating gawin na [a meaningful roadmap that we can make a] basis for the development of the industry,” he said.
The reorganization meeting of the AIR-TWG was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrian Reform; Ministry of Labor and Employment, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Mindanao State University, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, and major local abaca players, among others. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
