By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY– Assistant Regional Director Deogracias V. Maranga of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PHILFIDA)-9 bared recently that his office is now pushing for expansion of abaca farms in Zamboanga Peninsula to increase abaca fiber production to meet the market demand.
“Our central office has given us a target of 100 hectares for our regional abaca farm expansion program for this year,” Maranga disclosed.
But more than the given target, Maranga said PHILFIDA-9 has also targeted a much bigger area for abaca farming.
“Aside from the 100 hectares that our central office mandated us to develop this year, we also have targeted 1,000 hectares all over the region for farm expansion under the SME abaca industry champion product development,” Maranga stressed.
As part of abaca fiber development, PHILFIDA is now conducting grading and classification to ensure quality abaca fiber produced in the region.
“New Tech Pulp Inc., the biggest market and pulp processor in the country, is demanding producers to have good quality of abaca pulp because they want to produce quality papers as one of their by-products,” Maranga pointed out.
Part of PHILFIDA’s farm development is also implementing Abaca Disease Management Program as the abaca industry recently took a blow from infestation.
“Unfortunately, the industry is also vulnerable to diseases. We recently phased out some abaca farms, specifically that of GARBEMCO based in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, to avoid infestation of nearby farms. That explains why we have a reduced production of loose abaca fiber last year,” Maranga explained.
Per PHILFIDA-9 record, the regional production of loose fiber last year fell to 529.66 metric tons from the 644.86 metric tons produced in 2012, or 17.86% decrease.
However, Maranga is optimistic that with the initiatives put in place, they can bounce back from last year’s loss. He added that with the targets for farm development, the abaca industry in the region is in the right direction.
Philippines is the biggest abaca fiber producer worldwide with as much as 80% coming from the country.
