Sunday, November 26, 2006 Abaca fiber production booming in MP town
NATONIN, Mountain Province -- Abaca fiber production is now a promising enterprise in this eastern town which has identified abaca industry as its one town, one product (Otop).
Earlier, the Arang Multi-Purpose Cooperative delivered 5.4 tons of abaca fiber to Jing B Corporation in Bulacan, the biggest abaca fiber buyer in the Philippines with six tons more to be delivered before the year ends. Last year, the coop was able to deliver four tons of abaca fiber to the same company.
Benjamin Gayudan of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said abaca fiber production in Natonin started in 2003. With naturally-grown abaca covering about 900 hectares sporadically distributed in the different barangays of the municipality, including Kadaclan of Barlig and upper Bunot of Paracelis, concerned agencies saw the potential of developing the abaca industry here.
The DTI, together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, has been conducting trainings to members of the Arang Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
Out of the abaca fiber produced, they started making bags, ropes, slippers, sinamai and special handmade papers, which could be used as certificates and cards.
The finished products were brought to the Mt. Province Trade Center, now known as Mountain Province Pasalubong Center, which helps promote local industries of the province and also functions as a selling outlet and a trade facilitator between buyers and producers. These products are also being displayed and sold during trade fairs.
Last year, the DTI found the Jing B Corporation as a market for the Natonin abaca fiber.
Gayudan said the Arang Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Natonin is buying abaca fiber at P13.50 to P23 per kilo, depending on the quality. First class or S2 fiber costs P23/kilo. When delivered to Bulacan, the company buys it at P41 to P48 per kilo. First class fiber costs P48 per kilo.
He said manual fiber production produces 23 - 25 kilos per day while machine fiber production produces 48 - 60 kilos per day.
The cooperative was able to acquire one machine. Due to lack of skilled local manpower to produce more tons of fibers, the cooperative also hired 16 workers from Bicol who are experts in fiber production.
Abaca plants are abundantly grown in the municipality, crowded even in some areas resulting to thinner plant stems. And because they crowded, fiber production is less so there is a need to remove some of the plants for them to grow healthier.
