Iligan City, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) officially handed over the Abaca Fiber Processing and Marketing Enterprise to the Cadayunan Tribal Farmers Association (CaTriFA) in a turnover ceremony on December 9. The project is expected to significantly enhance the productivity and profitability of local abaca farmers.
Enterprise Details
The P9.1-million enterprise, funded under the Second Additional Financing with EU Co-financing Grant (AF2-EU), includes:
- Delivery truck worth P2.09 million
- Hauling tractor with trailer worth P1.94 million
- Baling machine worth P1.3 million
- Spindle stripping machine worth P800,000
- Decorticating machines worth P600,000
- Weighing scale worth P140,000
- Raw materials worth P2.2 million
These assets aim to bolster CaTriFA’s capacity to process and market abaca fiber, meeting the growing demand for this valuable commodity.
Optimism from Key Stakeholders
DA-10 Regional Executive Director and DA-PRDP 10 Project Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan expressed confidence in the project’s potential to benefit the association’s members.
“We believe this intervention is necessary for the proponent group because the demand and buying price of abaca is still high to this day. I hope that through this intervention, your cooperative will continue to be operational and prosperous,” said Pacamalan.
Impact on CaTriFA
CaTriFA President Marlyn M. Cubaynon highlighted the timeliness of the intervention, noting its potential to address their current limitations.
“Currently, we can only deliver a small volume of abaca fiber, but with this support, we can significantly increase our market deliveries and benefit from the high buying price,” she shared.
Cubaynon also expressed gratitude to DA-PRDP and the City Local Government of Iligan for their assistance, which she described as a significant boost for the abaca farmers in their community.
A Boost for the Abaca Industry
With the provision of modern equipment and resources, the turnover marks a major milestone in advancing the local abaca industry. The initiative not only empowers tribal farmers but also contributes to the sustainable development of agriculture in Iligan City. The DA-PRDP’s continued efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with local stakeholders and drive economic growth through innovative agricultural projects.