DA-PhilFIDA News Release
March 28, 2025
Cagayan de Oro City – The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is ramping up efforts to improve abaca fiber production in Northern Mindanao through the distribution of spindle stripping machines, which are expected to boost both fiber quality and farmer income.
PhilFIDA Executive Director Ali Atienza led the inspection of 12 spindle stripping machines in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday. The equipment will be distributed to 12 farmer cooperatives and associations across five provinces in Region 10—Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Bukidnon.
Each machine can process between 60 to 90 kilos of high-quality abaca fiber daily, with the potential to generate up to 300,000 kilos of improved fiber annually for the region.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to uplift the lives and welfare of Filipino farmers. Dahil dito, lalaki ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka,” said Atienza, emphasizing that the program aligns with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Region 10 currently produces an average of 5,605 metric tons of abaca fiber annually, spanning over 7,855 hectares of abaca farms and supporting more than 6,300 farmers. The addition of these machines is expected to further boost production and improve fiber quality, enhancing the region’s competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
Nationwide, PhilFIDA plans to distribute around 300 spindle stripping machines this year.
