The House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill conferring to the province of Catanduanes the official “Abaca Capital of the Philippines” designation.
House Bill 7369, principally authored by Catanduanes representative and concurrent Committee on Transportation chairman Cesar Sarmiento, seeks to acknowledge the vital contribution of the province in making the Philippines the largest producer of abaca fiber.
According to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), the country supplies about 87 percent of the world’s requirement for the production of cordage, specialty papers (for currency note, stencil paper, teabag, coffee filter/cup, capacitor and insulation paper, etc.), textiles, furniture and fixtures, handicrafts, novelty items, meat casing, cosmetics and skin care products, grocery bags, composites for automotive and construction and other industrial applications.
In 2016, the country produced a total of 496,069 bales of abaca and 130,090 bales in the first quarter of 2017. One bale is equivalent to 125 kilograms.
Statistics from the Department of Agriculture (DA) also showed that from 2009 to 2013, the Bicol Region was the top producer of abaca fiber with a total yield of 22,987 metric tons or almost 40 percent of the national production.
Of the total abaca production in the region, Catanduanes contributes roughly 92.3 percent, which is also equivalent to almost 35 percent of total abaca production in the country.
Of the total abaca production in the Bicol region, Catanduanes contributes roughly 92.3 percent, which is also equivalent to almost 35 percent of total abaca production in the country.
Catanduanes even beat Ecuador which ranked second in abaca production with a total produce of 8,555 metric tons. The province’s abaca exports are worth $114.79 million which are consumed by developed countries like the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
Catanduanes beat Ecuador which ranked second in the world’s abaca production with a total produce of 8,555 metric tons.
The bill pursues Section 1, Article XII of the Constitution which provides that the State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agriculture development and agrarian reform through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources, which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets.
Thus, the State recognizes the importance of abaca as a driver of rural development not only because of its singular potential as new material of various products that can increase the Philippines’ export earnings tremendously, but also for providing livelihood to many small farmers in the countryside.
In line with this public policy, the bill declares it is fitting to acknowledge the contribution of Catanduanes to the total abaca production of the country and the world where the province is considered to be the top abaca producer.
The bill bestows on Catanduanes the official designation as the “Abaca Capital of the Philippines.”
Once the bill becomes law, an Abaca Research and Development Center (ARDC) will be created. It will be attached to the Catanduanes State University (CSU), College of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The ARDC shall undertake and conduct researches and technical studies on the development, production, management, and marketing of abaca fiber. It shall also provide technical assistance and support to abaca farmers and other stakeholders nationwide.
Moreover, the center shall seek to develop appropriate technologies beneficial to the abaca industry, publish research papers, articles, and other related works or writings on a regular basis with the end goal of benefiting abaca farmers and other stakeholders nationwide.
The ARDC shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, PhilFIDA, the local government of Catanduanes and with the National Abaca Research Center in order to consolidate all policies, programs and projects on abaca research and development.
Meanwhile, the DA and the PhilFIDA, in coordination with the CSU, shall issue and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the smooth implementation of the Act.
An amount of P100 million will be initially appropriated from the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of the program shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
The amount shall be used primarily to increase the quantity of abaca plants through planting of more seedlings or increasing hectarage; develop abaca fiber quality through the use of technology innovations; market abaca fiber and products; and support the operation of the ARDC in Catanduanes.
An Abaca Calamity Fund will also be established which shall serve as buffer specifically for the rehabilitation of future damages to the abaca industry in Catanduanes caused by typhoons, pests and other calamities.
The Fund shall comprise of 10 percent of the total initial appropriation for the implementation of the Act. Thereafter, 10 percent of the succeeding annual appropriations shall be reserved as Abaca Calamity Fund.
Other authors of the bill are Reps. Jose Panganiban, Deogracias Ramos, Fernando Gonzales, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, John Marvin Nieto, Maria Vida Bravo, Orestes Salon, Francisco Datol, Delphine Gan Lee, Michelle Antonio, Wilfredo Caminero, Peter Unabia, Pedro Acharon, Micaela Violago and Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin.
