Tumandoks Eyed for multi-million Abaca Plantation

Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre
Libacao, Aklan- As the country vowed to remain its current stand in the world market in abaca fibers and products distribution, both the Fiber Industry and Development Authority(FIDA) and the Department of Agriculture eyed this municipality to compliment in the needed abaca production.

The FIDA and DA were forced to lookfor possible alternative abacaplantation after the provinces ofBicol, Leyte and Samar considered as the major abaca distributors in the country was ravaged by series of typhoons last year destroying the majority of its abaca plantation affecting the distribution of supply in the world market.

Libacao mayor Charito Navarossa said that with the government's assistance, the FIDA and DA have identified this town as possible alternative supplier of abaca production in Western Visayas to compliment the meager supply in the country.

Reports from the DA and the FIDA bared that the country is supplying 85 percent of abaca fiber products in the world and earning $75,0000 each year.

The rest of the 15 percent are being supplied by Ecuador and other Northern American states.

"I was told that the government will not allow other countries to overtake the world wide stand in abaca distribution the reason why the DA and the FIDA are fast-tracking the gathering of needed supply to compliment those remaining abaca plantation especially in Bicol,"Navarossa said.

It was learned that high-grade abaca plantations thrived in several hinterland areas in this municipality which when developed and taken care of the natural plantations, this town could earn the monicker of having the high-grade abaca plantation in Western Visayas.

"The DA and the FIDA had proposed to establish a three-years pilot testing center through their Package ofTechnology (POT) program of abaca plantations in Libacao," Navarossa said.

The project if become successful, Libacao residents could benefit from the multi-million market of abaca plantation in the world.

It is percieved that the demand of abaca fibers will increase in the coming months in the world market after a Kyoto International Treaty have been signed in Japan. The treaty requires international shipping companies, currencies and other products to use natural fibers to conserve the nature.

Among this fibers, abaca topped the list and is now a major materials being used in making currencies worldwide.

This year, the Daimler Benz makers of the Mercedez Benz automobile announced that it will now be using abaca fibers in their matting used in their vehicles in obedience with the KyotoTreaty.

Navarossa said that he had asked theFIDA and the DA to give priorities to Libacao Tumandoks which are considered the poorest in this town. Today, the IP elders are coordinating with agriculture officials to identify areas for the proposed POT project.

During this writer's visit in a Libacao expedition recently, it was learned that the Tumandoks are still practicing several of their ethnic traditions which in time needed to be discouraged by their elders themselves.

Among these practice are the multiple marriages tradition where a Tumandok male could have several wives as long as he could finance and maintain their wives welfare.

The multiple marriage tradition includes their 12 years old girl could already taken by a tumandok male as a bride after agreement with the girl's parents.

Also, a six months old pregnant young and adult women can still climb the coconut trees to pick coco fruits to augment their income.

"I have already asked their respective families to discouraged such tradition but they are protected and covered by special laws as an indigenous people,"the town mayor said.

The FIDA and the DA vowed to pilot the abaca POT project in an ancestral claims area to be approved by the National Commission on Indigenous Person.