NextGen Day

LEGAZPI CITY, PHILIPPINES – Abaca industry stakeholders are optimistic that the newly passed law designating Catanduanes as the “Abaca Capital of the Philippines” will stimulate the business and enhance the livelihoods of abaca planters.

In an interview on Wednesday, Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua said the new law will offer consistent financing from the national government to help abaca producers in the province and rebuild the abaca business.

“Aside from rehabilitation, further projects such as farm-to-market roads will benefit abaca planters,” Cua stated.

In a separate interview, Nikko Franco Templonuevo, provincial communications officer, said the cash will keep the abaca medicine and disease mitigation programs going.

“We will continue with farmer skill development initiatives, introduce new quality technologies, provide educational help to the children of abaca farmers, and build farm-to-market roads to improve product accessibility,” Templonuevo stated.

He also mentioned that the provincial government is considering having Catanduanes’ “largest abaca rope” entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza, president of Catanduanes State University (CatSU), expressed gratitude to Congress, the Senate, and President Rodrigo Duterte for passing the law designating Catanduanes as the “Abaca Capital of the Philippines” in a statement to the media.

“CatSU has long fought for this, and it’s nice to see that the bill has finally been passed because it will primarily benefit the 13,000 abaca farming families on the island, and 60 percent of our students are the offspring of abaca farmers,” Azanza said.

Meanwhile, Marie Grace Molina, provincial director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), believes that the new law will open up more opportunities in research and development, such as faster innovation downloads to help boost the industry’s productivity and allow for the creation of non-traditional abaca products.

“We anticipate that, as a result of the law’s passing, more funds will be committed to the development of the abaca industry, as well as the creation of jobs in all aspects of the abaca value chain. Indeed, this law is a significant victory for the Catandunganon Abacaleros, and it should be celebrated “she stated

Arcangel Rodriguez, the provincial director of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), said in an interview that the Abaca Capital declaration challenges the agency to be more aggressive in developing competency standards and training regulations that will produce skilled workers.

“Abaca Production NC II” will certify abaca farmers and encourage them to actively participate in the massive production of abaca fiber, acquiring related knowledge and competencies in effectively managing the maintenance of the abaca farm/plantation, and developing competency standards on the processing of abaca fibers to help our farmers produce products such as abaca twine, abaca paper, and other sub-products for handicraft, souvenir items, and canvas for artworks, among other things.

Rodriguez went on to say that abaca, as Catanduanes’ hallmark product, motivates TESDA to pursue further greening technical, vocational, education, and training advocacy programs.

The passage of the ordinance, according to Lone District Rep. Hector Sanchez’s social media page, is a success for the island province because abaca is a fabric that symbolizes the citizens’ tenacity and endurance through difficult times.

“Dahil sa Catanduanes, nangunguna ang Pilipinas sa global abaca trade.” I put forth a lot of effort to tuluyang maipasa ang batas na ito, because it’s lalong-lalo na sa ating mga abaca growers and strippers. Isusunod naman ang mga hakbang para sa pagpapatatayo ng mais de-kalidad pang abaca research facilities sa isla (Because of Catanduanes, the Philippines is the global leader in abaca trade.) I pushed hard for this to become a legislation since this would be a tremendous aid to our abaca planters and strippers. The steps for the building of further high-quality abaca research facilities in the island province will be taken next) “Sanchez explained.

On April 15, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11700, designating Catanduanes as the Philippines’ Abaca Capital.

The state recognizes the importance of the abaca industry and its development as a driver of rural development not only because of its singular potential as a raw material that can significantly increase the country’s export earnings and put the country on the map as the world’s largest producer of abaca fiber, but also because it has provided livelihood to many small farmers in the countryside.

Abaca production in Catanduanes accounts for more than 80% of the Bicol region’s total, with at least 21,500 hectares dedicated to the crop.

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