PhilFIDA, led by Executive Director Arnold “Ali” I. Atienza and Regional Director Engr. Wilardo O. Sinahon, took center stage at today’s Northern Samar Abaca & Coconut Summit 2025. Hosted by the Province of Northern Samar, the summit opened with Governor Edwin Marino C. Ongchuan’s call to scale up the province’s two flagship fibers.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. delivered the keynote, stressing that abaca and coconut are pillars of inclusive growth for Eastern Visayas. Engr. Sinahon then unveiled upbeat production gains in Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte and outlined PhilFIDA’s next interventions, while Mr. Eddie C. Tan Jr. of SC Tan Export Corp. mapped fresh global markets for sustainably sourced Philippine abaca.
During the summit, abaca farmers received the Certificate of Commitment to the following:
• Modified Portable Abaca Spindle Stripping Machines (₱135,000 each) to Luisita Upland Farmers Association & Hilly Land Farmers Association from Victoria, Northern Samar.
• ₱132,000 in checks to ten (10) beneficiaries of Abaca Plantation Under Coconut in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar.
• ₱739,000 worth of Pesticides and tissue-cultured abaca plantlets to LGU Silvino Lobos.
Through stronger farmer support and expanding market doors, PhilFIDA and partners are driving an innovative, resilient, and globally competitive abaca industry for Eastern Visayas.
