Senatorial candidate Camille Villar reiterated her support to the local abaca industry during her recent visit to Catanduanes, the country’s abaca capital.
“Congratulations on being the ‘world’s top producer of abaca.’ We are very proud of this industry,” she said.
The Philippines remains a top producer of the world’s strongest fiber, also used by world-renowned Filipino designers in their projects.
“We should continue to strengthen our agriculture and our local trade ans economy to create more jobs for our people,” she said.
Villar cited the importance of providing adequate support to abaca farmers, and to ensure that abaca fibers are bought at competitive prices.
Catanduanes has 36,853 hectares abaca production area, which are cultivated by 15,000 abacaleros, data from the Department of Agriculture showed.
To ensure that the Philippines’ maintains its spot as a top abaca producer in the world, Villar said appropriate support should be given to the abaca industry.