THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has provided assistance to abaca farmers in Catanduanes under its Integrated Livelihood Program, in partnership with the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and the provincial government.
Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua said that delivered to abaca farmers were six portable spindle machines designed to strip abaca faster are essential for efficient fiber processing to address production gaps and improve farmers’ income. The six portable spindle machines are worth P4.4 million.
Farmer Maria Theresa Molod, a resident of Barangay Santo Niño in the capital town of Virac, said the assistance will enable the Sto. Niño Farmers Association, where she is a member, to elevate abaca processing.
Photo shows one of the six portable spindle machines provided to abaca farmers in Catanduanes. PIA PHOTO
“This will be a great help to our abaca farmers because it will speed up the processing and improve the quality of the abaca fiber that we produce. With this, our abaca products will command good prices,” she said in the vernacular.
Araceli Tesorero of Genetligan Abaca Farmers Association shared Molod’s sentiment, saying the initiative would advance abaca fiber production practices and improve the quality and marketability of their abaca fiber.
“I thank the Department of Labor and Employment and the provincial government for the initiative to enhance the quality of our product using these modern machines,” she said in the vernacular.
During the turnover of the stripping machines, Cua assured abaca farmers that additional funding will be allocated for abaca production and pest control, encouraging the island’s 13,000 abaca farmers to increase their output.
Gerry Rubio, head of the Provincial Public Employment Office, had announced that the provincial government has provided a project counterpart funding of P1 million. In addition, the PhilFIDA will conduct training for cooperative members on the operation of the machines this month.
Abaca farmers’ cooperatives in the following localities that have received the stripping machines include: Sto. Niño in Virac with 48 beneficiaries; Genitligan in Baras with 30 beneficiaries; Tubli in Caramoran with 33 members; San Miguel with 55 members; Salvacion in Bagamanoc with 75 members; and Salvacion (Tariwara) in Pandan with 87 members.
Be the first to comment