Stakeholders' Forum in Marinduque
Date Posted June 2023
The PhilFIDA Regional Office IV conducted MARINDUQUEÑO STAKEHOLDERS' FORUM on May 16, 2023, in Marinduque. This forum served as a collaborative effort between PhilFIDA RO IV and the Municipal Government Unit (MGU) of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque. A total of 32 farmer stakeholders attended the event, including fibercrop farmers, local traders, fibercraft processors, and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and MGU, Sta. Cruz. This forum aimed to address the issues and concerns raised by the stakeholders, while emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Abaca. This involved highlighting the significance of maintaining high quality fibers, as well as proper grading and classification practices.Ms. Annray V. Rivera, the former Officer-in-Charge, Executive Director of PhilFIDA, delivered an encouraging message to small and startup cooperatives and associations, urging them to remain persistent and patient while disregarding any intimidation caused by their competitors' substantial purchase orders. She emphasized the importance of leveraging the resources and training offered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and PhilFIDA to develop unique designs and use social media platforms for effective strategic marketing. Also, she expressed her optimism about the increased involvement of Marinduqueños in the local abaca and buntal industries and thanked them for their contributions to the Philippine fiber industry.
