The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) – Region V, led by OIC-Regional Director Mary Anne R. Molina, in collaboration with the Albay Provincial Agriculture Office (APAO), the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC) – Albay, and the Municipal Agriculture Services Office (MASO) of the local government unit of Malilipot and Sto. Domingo, conducted a joint project monitoring activities in various abaca-growing communities in the province.
The monitoring focused primarily on the implementation of the Modified Abaca Stripping Knife (MASK) distribution, as well as the Abaca Rehabilitation and Expansion initiatives in Albay. As part of this effort, the team conducted interviews with three identified beneficiaries under the MASK program—two from Barangay San Roque and one from Barangay Calbayog, Malilipot, Albay.
The interviews aimed to assess the actual utilization of the MASK technology, gather feedback from the farmers, and evaluate its impact on their abaca fiber production and income. In addition to the interviews, the team visited an abaca farm in Barangay Calbayog, Malilipot to observe the condition of the existing abaca stands.
These site visits allowed the team to identify on-the-ground challenges related to farm maintenance and disease management, and to validate the ongoing progress of the abaca rehabilitation and expansion efforts in the area.
As part of the broader monitoring activity, the team also visited beneficiaries of the LGU-led Livelihood Training in Barangay Alimsog, Sto. Domingo, Albay—specifically, the P-6 Abaca Weavers SLP Association. The monitoring aimed to assess the impact of the livelihood intervention on the members’ weaving productivity, product development, and income generation.
This collaborative effort underscored the importance of strong coordination among PhilFIDA, APAO, PAFC, LGUs, and farmer-beneficiaries in ensuring that government interventions are properly implemented, closely monitored, and sustained. The activity is part of the continuing commitment to strengthen and develop the abaca industry in Albay through responsive programs and grassroots engagement.
