Catanduanes is Now The Top Abaca Producer

The province of Catanduanes has now replaced Southern Leyte as the largest abaca producing province in the country.

Cantanduanes which is a small island frequented by typhoons is now accounting for 20 percent of the country’s abaca production. It is also providing livelihood for over 23,000 farmers there. In the 1970s Southern Leyte was considered the abaca center of the world.

The Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para Desarollo has recently provided the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) with funds for mechanized abaca-stripping machines which are 15 to 20 times more efficent than the manual peeling equipment now being used in most provinces.

Nine towns in Catanduanes have each received the new machine to replace the manual peeling machine that is still used in most provinces including Southern Leyte. The FIDA admits however that the country’s abaca production had dwindled to only 8,646 metric tons in January to May 2009 because of the series of typhoons that have hit the Philippines and the effects of the Bunchy Top and Mosaic virus infestation.

The abaca plant which can grow up to 20 feet is harvested mainly for its large leaves and stems that produce natural fiber.

It is used extensively in clothing material and handicrafts. While the pulp is processed into tea bags, coffee filter, vacuum cleaner bags, currency notes and other specialty paper.

The fiber is also used for furnitures such as coffee tables, sofas and for the vehicle floorings of the popular Mercedes Benz cars. (By ANGIE BOOK)

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