October 13, 2014

VIRAC, CATANDUANES – From trivial questions to noteworthy suggestions, the provincial core planning team (PCPT) of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) of the Province of Catanduanes accommodated issues and concerns about the future of the abaca industry in the province during the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) Stakeholders’ Consultation held on October 10, 2014 at Rakdell Inn here.

This consultation is the next step in the PCIP preparation process flow after the presentation of value chain analysis (VCA) results to local chief executives (LCEs) and the PCPT conducted by the Regional Program Coordination Office (RPCO) Region 5 last August 22, 2014.

Nine municipal agricultural officers (MAO) from various municipalities in the province as well as producers, traders, support service providers, input dealers and other relevant stakeholders including the private sector attended the PCIP consultation.

The participants discussed the possibility of adopting abaca farm tourism in the municipality of Bato, Catanduanes to further promote the abaca industry in the province. Meanwhile, technical assistance was offered by other line agencies like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA). They also considered passing an ordinance mandating local government units (LGUs) to allot a portion of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) for the abaca levy fund.

According to Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (PPDC) Engr. Elsie B. Reyes, the activity marks another milestone in the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Units’ (PPMIU) effort to participate in the PRDP with the support from the stakeholders. Reyes added that the stakeholders’ observation and suggestions will be incorporated in the enhanced PCIP to be presented by the PCPT to provincial officials, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and Provincial Development Council (PDC) on October 17, 2014.

Reyes added that the Catanduanes Development Council (CDC) has already approved the P22 million pesos equity for farm-to-market roads and P200,000 for enterprise development in the province through the PRDP.

Based on Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) reports, on the average at the national level, Catanduanes’ share in abaca production was placed at 35% from 2008 to 2013, the highest in the region and in the country. Currently, the province has the most number of municipalities (11 out 12) and barangays (212 out of 315) with abaca farms, the most number of land area (31,051.25 out of 53,387 hectares) devoted to abaca production; the most number of farmers (12,734), and the top producer of abaca fiber in the country. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFID 5)