DoLE assists abaca farmer groups in Region 13
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) office in Region 13 (Caraga Region) recently provided livelihood assistance amounting to P5.4 million to 12 abaca farmer associations in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
The livelihood assistance or grant includes farm machinery and business capital, among others, under the DoLE Integrated Livelihood Program, which benefited mostly Indigenous farmers of the abaca associations.
“The grant aims to assist the farmers in enhancing their livelihood by improving and hastening the abaca fiber production in the town that will increase their yield and create better market opportunities for the local product,” said DoLE-Surigao del Sur Director Genebelle Bal.
The local government unit (LGU) of San Miguel is DoLE’s accredited partner in the initiative, and Philippine Army and other stakeholders played a vital role in its implementation.
Bonito Bocales, the Tribal Abaca Farmers Association chairman and also a tribal chieftain, expressed immense gratitude to the government for the program implementation.
“We appreciate the stripping machines provided by DoLE, with assistance from the LGU and the 75th and 36th Infantry Battalions. They were reliable partners, especially in document preparation. These machines greatly aid us abaca farmers, offering solutions to our challenges,” he said in the vernacular.
Prior to the machine distribution, each beneficiary underwent comprehensive training on financial literacy, health education, workers’ basic rights and an overview of the DoLE Integrated Livelihood Program.
The beneficiaries also underwent specialized training on the efficient operation of the machines.
The 12 abaca farmer associations that benefited from the initiative are: Acnitan Abaca Farmers Association, Balungkanadan Manobo Association, Carromata Abaca Farmers Association, Catabadan Busog Badbadan Abaca Farmers Association, Inadan Tribal Organic Farmers Association, Nalindog Farmers Association, Organisasyong Mag-uuma sa Tubod, Purok 7 Unified Abaca Farmers Association, Sangay Upland Farmers Association, Tambonon Lowland and Upland Farmers Association, Tribal Abaca Farmers Association and Balungkanadan Abaca Farmers Association.
According to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, the Philippines is the largest producer of abaca fibers, supplying about 87 percent of the world’s requirement for the production of cordage, specialty papers (for currency note, stencil paper, teabag, coffee filter/cup, capacitors, insulation paper, among others), textiles, furniture and fixtures, among others.
In 2022, Caraga ranked third among the top abaca-producing regions in the country, with an estimated 10,000 metric tons of fiber production. Surigao del Sur has 24 abaca farmers and traders who contributed to the output.