The Departments of Agriculture (DA), Trade and Industry (DTI), Science and Technology (DOST), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Agrarian Reform (DAR), together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Philippine Rubber Industries Association (PRIA), Philippine Rubber Farmers Association (PRFA), and the University of Southern Mindanao have embarked on a collaborative undertaking which seeks to address the challenges within the Philippine rubber industry.
The aforementioned agencies will work together to fully support the development of local rubber through the implementation of the Philippine Rubber Industry Roadmap for 2017-2022.
The six-year roadmap will guide the industry stakeholders and key players to fully assess the industry to be able to come up with recommendations for plans of actions and doable programs.
On April 16, 2018, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez led the signing of the Joint Statement of Commitment, which seals the support of all concerned government units towards the development and sustainability of rubber production.
The collaboration also signals the strong intent of the government along with the private sector and the academe to obtain a higher level of growth and quality of the produce. It also signifies the desire of agency leaders to pour in resources and technical expertise to uplift the sector and enable a more competitive industry.
Piñol, along with other signatories of the Commitment, acknowledge that the growth and sustainability of the rubber industry depends on the quality of participation, competitiveness and equitable sharing of benefits among stakeholders, as well as the support extended by the national, and local agencies, and other development institutions.
