DANAO
CITY, Cebu, June 29 (PIA) –
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched a Shared Service Facility
(SSF) on abaca stripping machine for fiber extraction on June 27 here.
The project, which costs more than P500,000,
will be implemented by the city government and the farmers associations of
Barangays Pili, Santican, and Magtagobtob.
DTI aims to increase the production of abaca
fiber, improve its quality, and increase the income of farmers through this
project.
“The purpose of the shared service facility is
to address production gap. There is a stable market for abaca that is not
addressed because stripping abaca is labor intensive,” DTI Cebu Business
Development Division Chief Elias Tecson said.
After the implementation of facility, the sales
are projected to exceed P60,000 from its daily average of more than P10,000.
“The machine will be a big help because it
is not easy to manually strip abacas. It is a back breaking job” said Danao
City Consultant Marilyn Oppus.
DTI Cebu Provincial Director Maria Elena Arbon
said that if the abaca stripping machine will not be used, it will be given to
other barangays who have market demands.
The condition is stated in the memorandum of
agreement signed by Arbon, Oppus, and Mayor Ramon Durano III during the
launching.
"We understand that we got used to manual
stripping of abaca. We are hoping that you will adjust and use the machines
because it’s for your welfare,” Arbon said.
Abaca plantation in Danao is estimated to cover
over 20 hectares.
Barangays Bayabas, Lawa-an, Sacsac, Cambubho,
and Danasan are also direct beneficiaries of the project. (rmn/mjpap/PIA7-Cebu)