The province, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), and local buyers have joined forces to support the IP communities in said place affected by the suspension of abaca buying operations since last year.
The issue stemmed when Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) imposed a “red-tagging” where traders have ceased to buying abaca from Talaingod, Davao del Norte, due to concerns over the quality of fake abaca daratex fibers.
Daratex abaca is a type of abaca fiber that is often of low quality and prone to processing problems. Daratex fibers are considered to be fake or counterfeit, as they do not meet the standards of genuine abaca fibers. The term "daratex" is used to describe these subpar fibers and distinguish them from high-quality, genuine abaca fibers that are used for various applications, such as papermaking, textiles, and rope production.
The suspension of buying operations for daratex abaca was reportedly due to the low quality of the fibers, which posed problems for traders and processors.
Jubahib earlier visited the area to provide food packs, seedlings, and planting materials to support the IP communities. He emphasized the need to resolve the issue to prevent the return of insurgency in the province.
Over 2,638 indigenous peoples (IPs) families from 70 sitios in three barangays in Talaingod were affected by the suspension of abaca-buying operations.
On Monday (Feb. 13), Jubahib, PhilFIDA Executive Director Annray Rivera and several exporters discussed long-term interventions to resolve the issue. This came after PhilFIDA lifted on February 7, 2023 the red-tagging on the buying of abaca from the Davao Region, allowing traders to resume purchasing the fiber.
One of the solutions discussed during the closed-door meeting was the provincial government commitment to eliminating fake abaca from the municipality and replacing it with true abaca varieties, such as tanggongon, inosa, and maguindanaon.
“I am determined to find a long-term solution to this issue and ensure that our IPs have a sustainable source of livelihood. Providing food and planting materials is just the first step. We must find ways to create economic opportunities for our IPs and make sure that they are able to support themselves for the long term,” Jubahib said in a statement Monday.
With the support of the PhilFIDA and traders, Jubahib said he is committed to providing a sustainable solution that will not only help the IPs in the short term but also secure their livelihood for the long term.
‘We are exploring the value-adding of discarded daratex fibers, including turning them into sacks and boxes, and providing support for affected IP farmers during the transition period through the provision of planting materials for cash crops, fruit trees, and poultry,” he said.
Jubahib further said, “the abaca industry is crucial for our region, and I will do everything in my power to help our IPs produce high-quality abaca that buyers demand. This is key to ensuring their long-term success."
Jubahib acknowlege the collaboration between the provincial government of Davao del Norte, PhilFIDA, and local buyers, which according to him demonstrates their commitment to supporting the IP communities and resolving the abaca issue in Talaingod.
Photo from DavNor