PHILIPPINES: Zamboanga rubber farmers receive processing equipment from trade dep’t

Four rubber farmers’ groups in Zamboanga Sibugay have received processing equipment under the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program.

The facilities, including coagulating and aging tanks and platform weighing scales, were turned over 23 Feb 2016 to Mate Multi-Purpose Cooperative/Rubber Farmers, Kipit Rubber Farmers Association, Recudo Taruc Rubber Planters Association, and Dalisay Small Rubber Farmers Association.

“Through DTI’s SSF program, the main purpose of these facilities is to address the battle of productivity, improve efficiency and the quality of the products of our clienteles, “DTI Zamboanga Peninsula Assistant Regional Director Noel R. Bazan told Business World Online.

The province of Zamboanga Sibugay is considered the rubber capital of the region with its farmers providing materials to rubber processors who export to Malaysia, among other markets. Philippine Statistics Authority data show that in 2014, Zamboanga Region ranked number one in terms of area planted as well as production, accounting for 40 % of the 86,452 hectares nationwide and 42.3 % of the overall 191,610-metric-ton wet rubber output.

DTI’s regional information officer, Michael Vincent D. Cajulao, said the agency will be monitoring the use and maintenance of the facilities, including their impact on business operations. “DTI will check on their respective businesses if there was an increase in production, employment and domestic sales,” Cajulao said. “We will also make sure that the facilities are used in a proper way and if not, the agency will have to take them back and give them to other beneficiaries who need the same facilities,” he added.

The SSF is a flagship program of the DTI that started in 2013. It is intended to help micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who lack the capital or do not have access to financing to buy equipment.

Source: Daily “Business World Online”, Manila; 25 Feb 2016
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)