Abaca pushed in Capiz
ROXAS CITY – Capiz towns are stepping up their efforts to contribute to the country's goal of making the Philippines as the world's number 1 producer of abaca by 2010.
Aside from the abaca nursery established in barangay Sta. Cruz in Dumalag, Capiz, another abaca nursery in Mainit, Cuartero town had also been established.
Information Officer Loida Borbon revealed that Congressman Fredenil Castro of the 2nd district of Capiz poured in some P200,000.00 for the construction of said abaca nursery.
On the other hand, Cuartero mayor Roger Flores had also set aside funds for the cost of 3,000 abaca seedlings, hauling and other incidental expenses, she said.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap revealed that about 85 percent of the world's abaca fiber supply comes from the Philippines , while the remaining 15 percent comes from Ecuador , the only other commercial producer.
In Western Visayas alone, Capiz is one of the expansion areas in abaca production, according to the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), targeting about 115 hectares for abaca plantation in the towns of Cuartero, Dumalag, Tapaz and Jamindan.
The country's top 10 abaca-producing provinces are Catanduanes, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Davao Oriental, Northern Samar, Davao del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Samar , Sulu and Sorsogon.
Yap explained that aside from abaca expansion initiative, DA through FIDA is also carrying out other programs designed to further boost production and raise incomes of rural families dependent on the abaca industry, among others.
Meanwhile, Borbon said that the abaca seedlings raised in the town's nursery will be ready for disposal to the different barangays for planting next month. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)