Monday, December 22, 2008 Abaca can uplift Natonin's economy By Rimaliza Opiña
NATONIN, Mt. Province -- This town has the potential of being a major producer of first- class abaca fiber (Manila hemp), next to the Bicol region if sufficient assistance is given to members of the community who want to develop the industry.
And this means putting up a nursery and instituting product development through research right within the municipality, said Mayor Marie Banaag, who said the abaca industry here is a potential million-peso industry if developed.
Banaag said she declined several invitations from the Fiber Industry Development Authority (Fida) for them to bring raw abaca to La Trinidad for marketing and development. She said if this is done outside the municipality, no progress is forthcoming for them.
Banaag fears that if the raw products are sold in La Trinidad and Baguio, this town, -- one of the poorest in the country -- will remain to be in the same condition.
A fourth-class municipality, the road leading to this town lack infrastructure which transportation to and from the capital town of Bontoc is limited to two trips per day.
If the abaca industry were developed, progress will trickle even to the community, Banaag said.
With the disease afflicting abaca plants in Bicol, Banaag said now is the time to devote time for this town's own abaca industry.
Abaca grows sporadically in this town's thick forest. Around 900 hectares remain available. The four investors who started harvesting abaca fiber have used less than a hectare said Marissa Kalang-ad of the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO).
The 10 tons produced every quarter is brought to Manila, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija for processing into bags, footwear and other products made from abaca fiber.
Kalang-ad said one local producer of abaca products require a minimum of 20,000 tons of fiber every month. This demand she said they could not meet due to lack of training, equipment and people who would regularly scrape fiber strands from the abaca plant.
A member of the banana plant, the leaf sheaths of abaca is detached in strips. The pulp is scraped off, leaving only the fiber strands, which are twisted into ropes. Abaca fiber has natural resistance to water, sun and wind and is also used for paper products.
The Philippines and Borneo are among the top producers of abaca.
