BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF armm industry cluster capacity enhancement project (aiccep) ARMM offers tax incentives AICCEP to rubber industry investors forms group to continue DAVAO CITY - Hun- Economic Zone Authority and Economic zone with dreds of rubber players, (REZA), highlighted the in- 129 hectare-wide interna- clusters investors and farmers vestment incentives during tional standard port ideal from all over the country his talk on investment pri- for rubber industry exports -- gathered here during the ority areas and logistics for flow, other agricultural and - To make sure the six in- Second Philippine Rubber investors eyeing ARMM to industrial products. dustry clusters under the Investment and Market En- invest in the rubber indus- Hajan reported also ARMM Industry Cluster counter (PRIME) with high try. the smooth relationship Capacity Enhancement Project will continue to officials of the Autonomous Hajan said the incen- now with the Bureau of function actively even after Region in Muslim Mindan- tives include exemption Customs (BOC) after the the termination of the proj- ao luring investors to the from duties and taxes on signing of Joint-Memo- ect, a committee has been region with tax-free incen- merchandise, tax credit for randum Order with BOC formed to draft a “sustain- tives. import substitution and ex- chairman Alberto Lina and ability plan” to be submit- Sakiran Hajan, Re- emption from port duties, the REZA-ARMM. ted to senior adviser Tetsuo gional Secretary of ARMM export tax, among others. Among key activities Inooka of Japan Interna- Department of Trade of Specifically, ARMM during the PRIME forum tional Cooperation Agency. Industry and chairman offers its special economic were business conference, “We need to come up of the board of Regional zone in the Polloc Freeport turn to page 6 turn to page 6 philippine

SEAWEED HARVEST. Seaweed output in the island of Tawi=Tawi is expected to keep rising in the years ahead as the seaweed industry cluster set up nurseries in selected coastal seaweed farms. Photo shows a boy showing off clumps of newly-harvested seaweeds Cluster Bulletin before drying them under the sun on wooden platforms. VOL. IV NO. 3 SEPT-OCT 2015 DTI to train SMEs set up industry clusters TOP OFFICIALS of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, JICA cites impact of the Department of Trade Zambales, and Aurora. and Industry said they will “For this year, SMERA provide cluster training for (SME Roving Academy) is 3,800 micro, small and me- geared towards capacitat- clusters on farmers dium enterprises (MSMEs) ing SMEs on how to prepare INDUSTRY clustering success is expect- workshop. in Central Luzon this year, themselves for bigger and more complex markets, free Inooka reminded Big demand in a bid to make them more ed to have a significant economic impact on competitive in local and in- trade, and the development farmers and bring more investments in the the cluster teams that for abaca ternational markets. of climate-smart industries Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao they had already cov- DTI officials said their in the context of climate ered 20 months out regional offices will imple- change and the global val- (ARMM). in motoring ment 152 cluster training ue chain,” the Trade depart- of the total 28 months sessions in 116 towns of Re- ment said. Senior adviser Tet- AICCEP. of the JICA-ARMM industry gion III, mostly in Bulacan suo Inooka of Japan “This is an indus- and Pampanga, along with turn to page 6 project and have only MANILA— Abaca is International Coop- try capacity enhanc- eight more months to now one of the newest ma- eration Agency (JICA) ing project, it’s not a go before the end of terial of choice for today’s Malaysian palm producers cited the collaboration training program for the project next year. modern car, not some so- phisticated, reinforced to expand in Mindanao among national gov- the industry. That’s “At this point, we metal but one of the old- MALAYSIAN palm oil of the largest crude palm ernment agencies, the why we want you to need to start thinking est fibers in use, one that’s producers are seeking fresh oil producers, became the academe, local gov- organize your clusters of how you can sustain used for dashboards and opportunities in the Phil- first foreign palm investor ernment units and the very well to sustain car interiors — the lowly ippines, aiming to build to consider Mindanao for your industry cluster abaca commonly used in private sector in every your activities and plantations in the country’s expansion. activities and projects making ropes, handicrafts southern region. “The potential for ex- industry cluster under projects in the coming once this project is and even paper money. Mindanao can offer pansion is there but it de- the ARMM Industry months,” Inooka told Just recently, abaca land to palm oil produc- pends on how the govern- over,” Inooka said. found its niche in the au- ers looking to expand but ment and industry play- Cluster Capacity En- ARMM cluster teams tomobile industry as the face a scarcity of land areas ers can solve any current hancement Project or during a recent Davao turn to page 6 “strongest natural fiber in their own country, Ma- problems,” Malaysia Palm material” for dashboards and car interiors, accord- laysian Palm Oil Council Oil Board Chairman Wan Chairman Lee Yeow Chor ing to the Department of turn to page 6 Science and Technology, told business reporters in which is backing a multi- Manila. million peso program to re- “For Malaysian palm vive the abaca industry, for oil producers to expand , local application in many they have to look outside sectors and as top export their own country and cer- item. tainly the Philippines, es- Abaca, known world- pecially the southern Phil- wide as Manila Hemp, is ippines, is one of the areas armm industry cluster capacity an economically important to look at,” said Lee. enhancement project crop native only to the Phil- A number of Malay- a project of ippines, being the lifeblood sian palm oil producers of more than 200,000 farm- had planned to expand in ing families from 56 abaca Mindanao some years ago, growing provinces in the but held back due to secu- country. rity issues in the southern japan international The strong fiber is also island.. cooperation agency a top export commodity of After the Manila - gov ARMM RUBBER FARMERS of island had a rare opportunity of visiting a rubber processing the country with an aver- ernment and Muslim reb- plant in City after a series of training lectures and workshops in rubber farming age of US$80 million an- conducted by the city government and the rubber industry cluster under the ARMM. Training els began to talk peace and nual export earnings. In DEPARTMENT OF the proper ways of growing rubber, tapping the rubber latex from the tree and processing reach an agreement in 2012, TRADE & INDUSTRY the rubber under strict quality standards, are all expected to boost the quality of rubber in turn to page 6 Felda Global Ventures, one PHILIPPINES Basilan.  PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN SEPT-OCT 2015 PROJECTS Big turnout at coffee field school in JOLO, SULU -- A large ues of the DA field school farmers’ field school ex- turnout of enthusiastic cof- training program with cof- pressed their willingness to fee farmers for a Farmers’ fee experts from the DA change their old traditional Field School project here providing the lectures and ways of coffee farming and overshot the coffee industry workshops on the correct replicate the new things cluster’s target of 120 farm- way of coffee farming from they learned at their own ers to 170 farmers or an ex- planting, soil management, farms,” Ahalul said. cess of 50 participants. pest control, applying fertil- Training kits and agri- “So many coffee farm- izer, proper harvesting, etc, culture supplies were pro- ers here were so interested etc--- everything the coffee vided to each coffee farmer to join the Farmers’ Field farmer needed to know on who participated in the field School even if we targeted Good Agriculture Practice school training workshop TAPPING THE LATEX from a rubber tree the correct way, rubber farmers in Basilan had a field only 120 farmers but we or GAP. which require every coffee day of trying out their newly-found skills after days of training and workshops conducted can’t turn them away, so farmer to show hands-on by the ARMM rubber industry cluster team. Photo shows one batch of rubber farmers doing “All the coffee farm- we allowed them to join actual tapping demonstration to show how far they have learned the correct skills from their ers who participated in the turn to page 6 field instructors. the field school” says coffee industry cluster chairman Abdusali Ahalul. Lamitan rubber farmers Sulu coffee In a recent Davao meet- ing with consultants of Ja- train on better tapping farmers pan International Coopera- LAMITAN CITY -- A tion Agency, Ahalul said the rubber farmer’s skill in tap- setting up extra 50 farmer participants ping rubber latex from the were recommended to the bark of a rubber tree can nurseries field school by the coffee determine the quality and farmers’ cooperative chair- quantity of the latex that JOLO, SULU --- New man and approved by the coffee nurseries in this is- can be harvested in a rubber provincial agriculturist of- land province have been fice under the Department plantation. set up during the last few of Agriculture. Recognizing the lack of months after coffee farmers skills among Lamitan farm- went thru several lectures Four organizations of ers in properly tapping rub- and hands-on demonstra- coffee coops and associa- tions in four sites in Sulu COFFEE NURSERY. Sulu coffee farmers (above photo) are shown ber trees, the ARMM rubber tions on establishing their setting up the construction materials of the coffee nursery farm site industry cluster mounted a A rubber farm trainee tries own nurseries at their own were chosen as the ven- after layouting this site at Kandayok, Panamao, Sulu island. total of five training semi- her new skill in tapping the coffee farms. white latex from a rubber tree Conducted by coffee nar-workshops during the in Basilan during a training agriculture experts from months of September and workshop session. Land areas for abaca Rubber October 2015 which attract- the Department of Agricul- ture, the lectures and dem- ed some 150 farmer partici- tants of Japan International onstrations were conducted Cooperation Agency during nurseries up in Lanao cluster pants from various rubber in four sites of DA’s Farm- plantations in the outlying a recent Davao monitoring ers Field School (FFS) here, CITY --- (The root mass from finishes areas of the city. meeting, Narsico said some Three pilot abaca nurser- the bottom of either banana “Lack of skill in tapping 150 rubber farmers from 13 ies have been established or abaca is called “corms” surveys in rubber trees among rubber barangays in Lamitan joined recently in which is buried in a ground farmers had been hamper- the training composed of province after three hectares hole, instead of a seed ing the rubber industry’s five batches which started of land were made available or seedling from a fruit. 39 villages growth and development with the first group, Batch 1 to the abaca industry cluster – AAP) LAMITAN CITY --- A for so long now. That’s why in September 16-18, 2015 at team for the project, accord- “We need to buy these total of 39 barangays were we gave high priority to this the FIT Center, SCARBIDC, ing to abaca cluster chair- abaca corms as soon as pos- covered in a city-wide sur- project,” says vice-chairman Sta Clara, Lamitan City. man Pundato Alug. sible so we can start plant- vey of rubber plantations Doming Narsico of the rub- This was followed by In a recent Davao meet- ing them in these three pilot conducted by the rubber in- ber industry cluster. Batch 2 (Sept 24-26), Batch 3 ing with consultants of nurseries,” Alug said. dustry cluster over a three- In his report to consul- turn to page 7 Japan International Coop- Land preparation work month period early this eration, Alug said the land on these three areas include year. Mapping of seaweed areas areas for the pilot nurseries soil cultivation and fencing “It was important for were already prepared for the areas to secure the pilot us in the cluster to know Coffee farmers set up a big fish planting, “ but no planting nursery plants from stray how many rubber planta- winds up in Tawi-Tawi net over their newly-constructed can be done because we still animals and other disrup- nursery to protect young coffee tions are there in Lamitan, TAWI-TAWI -- Map- plants from animals, insects have no abaca corms to use the number of trees, the age ping of all the seaweed va- and harsh sunlight in Sulu. for planting.” turn to page 7 of the trees, number of farm rieties available in selected drawing a big number of workers, what their needs seaweed-growing areas in coffee farmers planning to are, etc--- we need all of , , put up their own nurseries. these in our new database,” and Sitangkai has “I think it’s very im- rubber cluster vice-chair- winded up recently after portant for coffee farmers man Doming Narsico said the varieties were clearly to know the proper way of during a Davao meeting identified by the seaweed processing coffee seeds for recently with consultants of industry cluster. propagation to make sure Japan International Coop- In a recent report to con- the seeds will germinate eration Agency. properly,” says coffee clus- sultants of Japan Interna- Setting into motion this tional Cooperation Agency, ter chairman Abdusali Ah- Seaweed varieties in four alul “assessment and database” cluster project team leader seaweed farm areas of Tawi- In his report to consul- project early this year, Nar- Dra. Jumelita Romero said Tawi had been identified and tants of Japan International sico said the research staff they had already finished mapped out by ARMM seaweed industry cluster team. Cooperation Agency, Ah- hired for the project were identifying the seaweed va- alul said it was significant initially anxious about the rieties in the four selected characterizing the quality for the coffee farmers to see peace and order conditions areas and has mapped out and carrageenan content for themselves how a coffee of Basilan province since the varieties per study area. of the collected seaweeds, nursery is set up in a farm many of the rubber planta- “We’re finished with carefully-selected branches properly, how to prepare tions were in the farflung identifying the varieties in of these seaweeds were the seeds and the soil for areas of the city. After co- the four areas. We’ve also grown and propagated un- planting, etc to make sure the nursery can produce ordinating closely with ba- winded up the mapping der controlled conditions rangay officials, the survey work of these varieties and at the Seaweed Cultivars the best coffee seedlings for planting. teams were provided secu- collected seaweed samples Laboratory of the Mind- The coffee industry rity by the Philippine Na- anao State University here from these areas,” Dra cluster chairman said the DEMO FARM. Tall weeds growing on a site for an abaca tional Police. Romero told JICA consul- in Tawi-Tawi, according to farmers were also taught techno-demo farm in Taraka, Lanao del Sur are cleaned out by To consolidate all the tants during a recent Davao Dra Romero. how to select the best cof- a brush cutting equipment used by this abaca farmer. Abaca survey data gathered by monitoring meeting. “We want to propagate fee seeds, identify what demo farms are a top priority for the ARMM abaca cluster team to show Lanao farmers the proper way of growing and After extracting and turn to page 6 turn to page 7 turn to page 6 harvesting abaca. SEPT-OCT 2015 PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN  SPOTLIGHTS Virgin coco oil exports surge Tuna 108% on rising global demand exports up VIRGIN coconut oil but value (VCO) continued to be the down 30% Philippines’ top-earning non-traditional, coconut- GENERAL SANTOS based export, showing a CITY--- - The value of 108-percent year-on-year Philippine tuna exports in surge in monthly volume 2014 went down by 30 per- recently , the United Co- cent despite an increase in conut Associations of the shipped volume, accord- Philippines (UCAP) said. ing to a report prepared for UCAP March 2015 the ongoing 11th Regular data showed 11 niche coco- Session of the Western and nut products chalking up Central Pacific Fisheries more than $100,000 each Commission (WCPFC) sci- in export earnings for the entific committee in Pom- month. Of the 11, the top pei, Micronesia. five cornered more than $1 MARKET DEMAND for coconut virgin oil in world markets has surged According to data sub- million each in receipts. in recent months as recent exports shot up 108% year-on-year in mitted by the Philippine VCO shipments monthly volume. Big bulk of the demand (63%) comes from the US delegation, tuna shipments market, with smaller shipments going to Canada, Japan, Germany earned $19.84 million or and UK. amounted to US$459.83 mil- lion, down from US$664.50 MORE INVESTMENTS in the poultry industry are expected in 2016 some P880 million, with as local and foreign investors find the industry as lucrative as ever the United States taking The US cornered 63 volume. million in 2013. with demand for fresh and processed poultry products rising in 76 percent of shipments percent of shipments or Fourth was bath soap The bulk of export rev- Japan, Korea, China, Middle East and Europe. Northern Mindanao is that totaled 4,409 metric about 1.7 million liters with $1.3 million from the enues came from canned now in the spotlight with more investors’ inquiries rising within the industry. tons. Other major destina- while smaller volumes sale of 652 tons, or a de- tuna, which reached 58,660 tions were Canada, Japan, went to Australia, Canada, crease of 20 percent in vol- metric tons (MT). Fresh, Germany and the United the United Kingdom, and ume from the same period chilled and frozen tuna Poultry to attract P500M Kingdom. 14 other destinations. last year. products came next with Coconut water was Coco coir or fiber and Fifth was hydrogenat- export volume totaling investments in 2016 28,808 MT. The country also second with $3.6 million, coir products came in at ed coconut oil, earning a CAGAYAN DE ORO- lamic law, and is free from exported 1,460 MT of dried earned from shipments third place as exporters total of $1.29 million from - – Poultry growers and pork products, alcohol and smoked tuna products. totaling 2.7 million liters. earned some $1.3 million 1,876 tons — with the vol- farmers, specially the mi- and certain other ingredi- Overall export volume This was 69 percent more from shipments totaling ume ballooning sevenfold. cro, small and medium en- ents. Islamic groups are went up to 88,928 MT, aided than the volume shipped 1,063 tons. This was 69 per- (Ronnel Domingo / IN- terprises or MSMEs were involved in halal certifica- by a 98 percent increase in out in March 2014. cent less than the year ago QUIRER.NET) advised to secure Halal tion, with companies pay- the volume of canned tuna, Certification to be able to ing fees for inspection and turn to page 7 market their chickens over- certification carried by the seas once the ASEAN eco- Islamic Da’wah Council of nomic integration begin to the Philippines, according Clusters take place by yearend. to Boniao. Department of Trade Northern Mindanao has help revive and Industry regional di- the third highest production rector Linda Boniao said volume for poultry in the mango all the MSMEs in Northern country and is the only one Mindanao have so much to outside Luzon. Boniao said industry earn from the integration of the presence of large poul- the Association of Southeast try production in Northern MANGO GROWERS Asian Nations. Mindanao means there is a in Southern Mindanao have Halal food has been big potential for exports to been losing their shirts, so prepared according to Is- turn to page 7 to speak. While the prices of inputs like fertilizers and crop protection chemicals Isabela dairy coop to have continually become more expensive, the price they get for their mango have new DA facilities harvest has been erratic WITH THE help of the PRDP, Edwin Respicio of Ben Lao turned a once-useless grassland into the most productive coconut farm in Davao and mostly below produc- Department of Agriculture, the Cagayan Valley Maun- del Sur, producing export-quality coco sugar and virgin coconut oil, earning much higher tion cost. a dairy processing facility lad Cattle and Dairy Coop- income than his copra output. As a result, many of the in Isabela will soon upgrade erative said the project will mango farmers had been the production, processing, bring a guaranteed market BEN LAO OF BANSALAN from four to six liters of sap per tree a cutting down their trees be- and marketing of milk and for dairy farmers in Mallig day. cause the price per kilo had other milk-based products, and in surrounding towns. Because of the excellent result of his Farmer makes gone down to as low as R5 thus boosting the growth of He added that this will like- intervention, he was inspired to teach per kilo. There was no way the Philippine dairy indus- wise increase income for more money the neighboring farmers to adopt his the farmers could make a try women and small farmers technique. This led to bigger volumes profit at this price level. The DA, through the en- can participate in various in coco sugar of sap for commercial coco sugar pro- That situation worried terprise development item projects and activities in- duction. The next step was to produce ANSALAN, DAVAO DEL SUR Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Bar- of its World Bank-assisted cluding milk gathering and quality coco sugar so that it will meet – Ben Lao had an exciting story tocillo no end. He himself Philippine Rural Develop- selling fodder. export quality standards. Lao worked to tell. He related how he and is a mango grower, trader ment Project (PRDP), will The enterprise will pro- B on the certification of his coco sugar and and processor. Most of their the farmers in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, soon upgrade a coopera- vide dairy raisers with a enhanced packaging. He also intensified have converted useless grasslands into mango trees are 20 to 25 tive-owned dairy process- turn to page 7 the promotion of coco sugar locally and productive land. He is the president and years old and they are in ing facility in Mallig town in abroad. CEO of Lao Integrated Farms, Inc. their very productive years Isabela. Ben Lao promoted coco sugar and Adopting the organic farming tech- if they are properly taken This P32-million project other products of his farmers’group to nique in underutilized rocky and grass- care of. Isabela Dairy Enterprise will the world’s markets through the internet land areas, Ben Lao employed science- That prompted him to upscale the production, pro- and extensive use of his own website, based technology to transform the once think of ways to save the cessing, and marketing of trade missions and trade fairs overseas. unproductive land in Bansalan into the mango industry, particular- milk and milk-based prod- Lao said he started with just three most productive farmland in this prov- ly in Region 12 which con- ucts such as raw milk, pas- coco sap gatherers. Today, there are 132 ince.. sists of the four provinces teurized milk, flavored milk, gatherers which means that he created The main crop is coconut and of South Cotabato, North yogurt and milk-o-gel. The new jobs for his fellow farmers in Bansa- Cotabato, Sarangani and the major product is coconut sugar. initiative is expected to ben- lan. He said that when one coconut tree Sultan Kudarat, plus the To increase the production of sap for efit more than 2,400 house- is used for the production of coco sugar, two cities of General San- coco sugar production, Lao promoted holds in Mallig and nearby the profit is almost three times com- tos and Cotabato. The area among neighboring farmers to apply towns.During a stakehold- pared when the tree is used for making planted to mango in the re- vermicast (earthworms) and use salt to ers’ consultation of the Lu- copra. gion is 17,400 hectares with Isabela dairy farmers are now fertilize their coconut trees. The result zon A Cluster leg of the First One coconut tree can produce 25 about 779,000 trees. producing good quality fresh is increased production of coconut sap World Bank Implementa- turn to page 7 milk from their coop-owned turn to page 7 tion Support Mission to the dairy processing facility.  PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN SEPT-OCT 2015 ACTIVITIES Crafts training set up by abaca cluster MARAWI CITY --- Var- Pundato Alug. Sewing machines and some ious products like ropes, In a recent report to fabricated machines were twines, scrunch, handbags, consultants of Japan Inter- prepared and used by the floormats. tablemats, etc, national Cooperation Agen- participants during the etc, can be hand-made from cy, Alug said despite some training workshops held in abaca fiber and sold in local delays, the abaca cluster Iligan City. or overseas markets as ad- team was able to start the Abaca farmers and ditional sources of income handicraft skills training growers in the Lanao del for abaca farmers and their seminars and workshops Sur had been griping for families. for several abaca farmers years about the low-buy- “That’s why we need to and their families in mid- ing price of abaca of a sin- set up a skills training pro- November 2015. gle abaca trading company gram for abaca farmers and Cebu-based handicraft cornering all the supply their families to teach them experts in abaca crafts mak- of abaca fiber from abaca how to make sellable prod- ing were contracted to con- growers and processors in ucts from abaca fibers,” duct the week-long training the province. says abaca cluster chairman seminars and workshops. turn to page 7

ABACA HANDICRAFTS. Hundreds of products can be made from abaca fiber and sold in both domestic Govt wants and global markets. Rope, twines, floormats, handbags, table mats, house decors, etc are just some of the products manufactured from abaca fiber. Photo shows some of the abaca products made from abaca to revive fiber by Lanao weavers after a skills training seminar. interest in Power plants Seaweed cluster meets bamboo to get 550mw SAN FERNANDO – Tawi-Tawi growers Trade and industry officials in 2016, expect TAWI-TAWI --- Com- of Japan International Co- held recently the Regional mon problems faced by operation Agency. Bamboo Congress in a bid less brownouts seaweed farmers and Dra. Romero took up to open another avenue to growers in the coastal the issue of some seaweed revive the dying interest on PEOPLE are suffering from the sweltering heat towns of Panglima Sugala, farmers using fertilizer to bamboo --- the country’s from El Nino, as rotating Sibutu and Sitangkai were fatten their seaweeds which alternative to wood prod- identified and threshed out increase their weight but ABACA CLUSTER team members are shown meeting with brownouts all over Mind- during meetings recently reduces the carrageenan ucts. officials of the PhilFIDA in City to finalize their plans anao are back in time for with the seaweed industry content. “We asked them Warren Serrano, infor- for skills training, buying of abaca corms for their nurseries the Christmas season. mation officer of Depart- and benchmarking plans and schedules. cluster team led by cluster to stop using fertilizer and A Department of Ener- chairman Annabel Sahali explained to them that sea- ment of Trade and Industry gy official is confident it will (DTI) Central Luzon, said and co-chairman Filemon weeds with higher carra- be better next year (2016) as Romero. geenan content are better the congress highlighted Coconut by-products a total of 550 megawatts Project team leader Dra quality seaweeds that can the importance of bamboo (MW) power capacity is Jumelita Romero said the command higher prices,” in the preservation of the boost farmers income expected to be added and island of the Sitangkai has the team leader said. eco-system aside from its COTABATO CITY - installed to the Mindanao around 100,000 hectares The seaweed industry common use an alternative - Increasing the income of Power grid by the first half of coastal sea area planted cluster team also identi- to wood. every coconut farmer in of 2016 with the maiden op- to seaweeds, followed by fied the seaweed variet- “We’re pushing the the Autonomous Region of erations of three coal-fired nearby Sibutu island with ies in the island towns of idea of reviving the public’s Muslim Mindanao has been power plants in southern 15,000 hectares of seaweed Bongao, Panglima Sugala dying interest on bamboo cited by the coconut cluster and northern Mindanao. farms and the coastal area and Sitangkai and mapped and promoting its propaga- team as “the real problem The three coal-fired of Panglima Sugala cover- out their locations in these power plants are the two tion all over the country,” of the coconut industry” in ing some 350 hectares of three areas, according to units of San Miguel Consol- seaweed farms. Dra Romero. said Serrano, stressing that the region. idated Power Corporation “All in all, our cluster Identifying these ar- “Besides making co- bamboo is the only alter- (SMCP) with a combined team had five meetings eas, according to the team pra, we have to find ways native to other woodcraft capacity of 300 MW, Sarang- and consultations with sea- leader, has helped them for our coconut farmers to products such as furniture gani Energy Corporation weed farmers and growers in establishing model sea- boost their income from the and decorative materials. (Sec) Unit-1 with a capacity in these areas during the based nurseries to produce The day-long activity various by-products of the third quarter to find out new and better varieties of Handicrafts made from of 100 MW and the Aboitiz- coconut tree” says Tanggote their problems and what seaweeds from the propa- was held at the Pampanga coconut shells and coco Power’s 150 MW Therma State Agricultural Universi- Panganda, chairman of the South Inc. (TSI) Unit 2. we can do to help them,” gules grown in the labora- coconut cluster in a recent husks. ty where participants were “The entry of these Dra. Romero said during a tory of the Mindanao State report to consultants of Ja- Many coconut farmers given the opportunity to coal-fired power plants recent monitoring meeting University in Tawi-Tawi. pan International Coopera- in Maguindano, according turn to page 7 in Davao with consultants (Philpress News) turn to page 7 tion Agency (JICA). to Panganda, are asking how they can make money from the other by-prod- ucts of the coconut, citing 152 rubber farmers trained the huge piles of coconut husks after every harvest as well as the various prod- on farm management ucts farmers can make from LAMITAN CITY – Rub- port for the sake of growth dwarf species of coconuts. ber plantation farmers com- and development of our “They want to know ing from the outskirts of this rubber industry,” Furigay how they can produce vir- city turn out in big numbers said. gin coconut oil, coco sugar, to take up intensive train- The first training batch coco cream, coconut milk ing in “rubber production or Batch 1 was held in May for domestic and export technology and manage- 25 to 27, followed immedi- markets. They also want to ment training” conducted ately by Batch 2 in May 28 know how they can turn by the rubber industry clus- to 30, 2015, and later the their wastes of coconut ter team led by chairperson following week by Batch husks into coco peat and Mayor Rose Furigay. 3 in June 2 to 4, all funded coco fiber which have big A total of five training by Japan International export potentials,” Pangan- schedules were conducted Cooperation Agency un- da said. and completed in five batch- der the ARMM Industry The Philippine Coconut es from May to September Cluster Capacity Enhance- Authority in the province, A rubber farmer trainee tries 2015 drawing a total of 152 ment Project of JICA and according to Panganda, is budding a seedling during a farmer participants coming the ARMM Department of closely coordinating with farm training workshop. from some 19 barangays in Trade and Industry. the coconut cluster team and will soon put up a Lamitan, according to Furi- this technology and man- Rubber cluster vice- RUBBER BUDDING. A rubber farm expert show participating nursery for dwarf coconuts gay. agement training. We knew chairman Doming Narsico farmers of a training workshop in Basilan how to plant a in and make “We were so impressed how much they needed this said the next two batches rubber tree seedling properly. Training rubber farmers in the seedlings available to all by the all-out participation type of training. Our city is that followed, Batch 4 and the island in the correct method of growing rubber, is a top of rubber farmers here in giving them its all-out sup- turn to page 7 priority activity of the ARMM rubber cluster team. turn to page 7 SEPT-OCT 2015 PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN  SIDELIGHTS Banana Active participation exports to of private sector urged Iran to PRIVATE sector par- “You have the right to volved actively in discuss- ticipants in all the industry know everything your clus- ing details and making increase clusters of ARMM Industry ter does, from the buying of decisions on every activity Cluster Capacity Enhance- materials to the delivery of and project of the cluster this year ment Project (AICCEP) materials to the construc- team where you belong,” had been asked to be more tion. This is part of your ca- Datumanong stressed. PHILIPPINE banana actively involved in every The ARMM Assistant growers and exporters are expecting a higher volume activity and project of their “You have the right to Trade Secretary stressed cluster. this point as the various in- of exports to Iran this year “Every member from know everything your dustry clusters—Palm Oil, after several months of de- clining banana exports dev- the private sector in all the cluster does, from the Coconut, Coffee, Abaca, clusters, must know ev- Seaweed, Rubber --- were astated by the impact of El ery step of the way in the buying of materials to already buying and deliver- Nino on the industry. Stephen A. Antig, ex- implementation of projects the delivery of materials ing materials to the various and activities,” ARMM projects and activities set ecutive director of the Pili- Assistant Trade Secretary to the construction.” into motion by the clusters pino Banana Growers and Abubacar Datumanong these past months, after Exporters Association said the banana exports from BANANA EXPORTS. Fresh Cavendish bananas are packed told industry cluster mem- pacity enhancement in your JICA funds and counterpart for export in this packing plant in Davao del Norte. Faced by bers and project managers industry,” Datumanong funds from national gov- Davao to Iran are expected challenges and a myriad of problems, the banana industry has during a recent meeting in said, addressing members ernment agencies and local to surge to higher levels af- remained stable in the years past and continued shipments Davao with consultants of from the private sector. government units were re- ter the sanction imposed by of the commodity to traditional markets like Japan, which remains the top banana importer in the country. The industry Japan International Coop- “That’s why it’s so im- leased to them. (Philpress the United States to the Is- lamic Republic was lifted in expects a higher volume of banana shipments to Iran in eration Agency. portant for you to get in- News) 2016. May last year. “Hopefully we expect a Sarmiento firm offers Dagupan significant increase in terms JICA adviser explains of banana export volume bangus’ tag going to Iran especially now land for palm nursery that economic sanctions im- PMO work functions COTABATO CITY --- A “Many farmers and certifies posed to that country by the FUNCTIONS and re- their expenses,” Inooka told two-hectare land for a palm growers are asking us where US had already been lifted,” sponsibilities of project the project management of- oil nursery has been offered they can buy palm oil seed- Antig told Davao reporters. management officers as ficers from the Department milkfish well as those running satel- of Trade and Industry re- for use by a Sarmiento In- lings. That’s why we need He said Iran had been lite offices in the provinces gional and provincial of- dustries in Maguindanao to put up our own nursery encountering problem in quality of ARMM were explained fices in the ARMM. province to the ARMM to supply the seedlings to the remittance of payments in detail by senior adviser Inooka also cited the palm oil industry cluster them,” Ibay told consul- Dagupan City, Panga- for bananas in the past years Tetsuo Inooka of Japan need of promoting the in- team. tants of Japan International sinan — Lovers of “Dagu- after its bank accounts were International Coopera- dustry cluster approach Cooperation Agency dur- pan bangus” and consum- frozen due to the US sanc- This nursery project has tion Agency to the various in their areas by gathering ing a recent Davao monitor- ers now get nothing less been among the cluster’s tion. PMOs and SPMO’s during information of all the activi- ing meeting. but this city’s best milkfish top priorities, according to Based on the Philippine a recent Davao meeting. ties, projects and programs with every milkfish tagged the cluster chairman Suhar- Ibay said the industry Statistic Authority 2015 first “Besides planning and of the cluster and sending with the “Dagupan Certi- to Ibay who cited the need cluster team is working quarter export data, Iran managing the project in the reports to the Philippine fied” logo. for high quality oil palm closely with the Philip- placed third among the your area, you still need to Cluster Bulletin for publica- seedlings to distribute to pine Coconut Authority in Fisherfolks and pro- Philippine export top des- administer the operations tion. growers and farmers plan- the province which is col- ducers of the Dagupan ban- tinations of fresh or dried of the cluster, helping in “Promoting the indus- ning to start or expand their laborating with the team gus have banded together bananas--- and recording tapping sources of funds production of palm oil. to give their special brand a total export FOB value of turn to page 7 and doing the accounting of turn to page 7 of milkfish the advantage it $8.1 million. (Free On Board deserves and for customers, value does not include the visitors and tourists to be shipping costs) assured they are getting the Japan has remained the best tasting milkfish in the top banana importing coun- country.. try during the period with “We have lots of com- $37.4 million followed by petition and there are times China with $33.7 million. they take our market by A total of $94.2 million misleading the buying pub- export FOB value was re- lic that they are selling ‘Da- corded by the region during gupan bangus;’ and jack- the same period with gross ing up the price,” said one weight of 349,483,515 kilo- retailer.. “The truth is ---the grams (kgs). real Dagupan bangus has its Iran market demand To push the growth of the palm oil industry in the ARMM, own distinct taste---and its for fresh bananas this year, the cluster team plans to set up a number of nursery farms the best tasting milkfish.” according to Antig, is esti- Milkfish grown and harvested in Dagupan is boosting its to supply seedlings to palm oil farmers in the region. Photo turn to page 7 image of high quality by a tag saying “Dagupan Certified” on show a typical palm oil nursery in the southern Philippines. turn to page 7 every bangus that comes only from Dagupan fishponds. AICCEP PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICES

ARMM PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE Lanao del Sur Satellite Project Management Office 7400 Jolo, Sulu Satellite Project Director : Mohammed Aquil A. Mamainte Cellphone: 0915 8059221 DTI Asst. Trade Secretary Abubacar M. Datumanong ARMM Department of Trade and Industry Email add : [email protected] ARMM Department of Trade and Industry 3F, RLM Bldg., Amai Pakpak Avenue ORG Complex, Cotabato City, Maguindanao Barrio Green, Marawi City Telephone : (064) 421 – 3442 Cellphone: 0917 707 8636 Tawi-tawi Satellite Project Management Office Fax Nos. : (064) 421 – 7729 Satellite Project Director : Nazrullah Masahud Email add : [email protected] ARMM Department of Trade and Industry Basilan Satellite Project Management Office Bongao, Tawi-T-awi Satellite Project Director : Nonito Manuel Cellphone: 0998 551 0932 Maguindanao Satellite Project Management Office ARMM Department of Trade and Industry Email address: [email protected] Satellite Project Director: Datu Khalikuzaman Baraguir Valderosa Street, Isabela City, Basilan ARMM Department of Trade and Industry Cellphone: 0875 2205738 Door 1-2 Alonto-Biruar Bldg. Email add : [email protected] SENIOR ADVISERS : Mabini St., Cotabato City ARMM DTI Secretary Sakiran A. Hajan Telephone: (064) 421 7775 Email add : [email protected] Sulu Satellite Project Management Office Satellite Project Director : Harrison Haron ARMM Department of Trade and Industry Sulu Provincial Office  PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN SEPT-OCT 2015 jica projects JICA cites importance of regular “Every cluster must monitoring review the ONITOR - the activities conducted “After all this check- ING the and compare them with ing every step of the way, p e r f o r - the targets or goals set up the cluster is expected to progress of mance of an by the cluster. update the plan for better Mindustry cluster regularly “In evaluating an performance in the suc- the activity is very important, accord- activity, you’ll be ask- ceeding months,” Inooka ing to senior adviser Tet- ing yourselves how you said. plans of the suo Inooka of Japan In- implemented the process Evaluation of per- ternational Cooperation and what methods you formance, according to Agency. used in setting your plans Inooka, is the most im- cluster team ‘Every cluster must into motion,” Inooka portant part in the moni- review the progress of pointed out. toring report where the and share the activity plans of the The JICA consultant cluster must describe its cluster team and share cited such activities as evaluation on their per- the perfor- the performance results training to upgrade skills, formance. among the cluster players holding a forum to push Inooka said the clus- in the team,” Inooka said. an advocacy, or partici- ter must describe its over- mance re- In a presentation pating in a trade fair to all evaluation, such as made recently to all the promote product sales, “performed more than sults among cluster teams of the Au- etc. targeted”, “performed as Rubber industry cluster team holds training for rubber tonomous Region of Mus- While monitoring is targeted,” or “performed farmers during a recent seminar workshop in Basilan. lim Mindanao, Inooka done to “assess the perfor- poorly compared to tar- the cluster stressed that monitoring mance , Inooka stressed gets”. ditions, describing them scription of facts. “Just will review all the activi- that it is conducted also to The cluster team clearly for everyone to un- make sure you don’t mix players in the ties conducted and the evaluate what had been must be able to analyze derstand easily, according up the description of facts budget disbursed, but done by the cluster, com- the causes of failures and to Inooka. and your own comments,” team.” most important of all, the paring it to the targets set the reasons for success, The JICA consultant Inooka said. (Philpress cluster team will be able in the beginning by the taking into account both cautioned however that News and Features) to evaluate the impact of team. internal and external con- “performance” is a de-

DTI to train... well as hazard analysis and ARMM offers tax... ence will provide access Big demand... Big turnout... critical control points for food to information related to “The complexity of the global trade, it boasts of all the proper ways of plant- processors. market matching and en- business opportunities in environment in which MSMEs The agency said these high demand as raw ma- ing, grafting, spraying, fer- operate now require that their counter, exhibits about the the rubber industry and its were designed to complement terial for cordage, textile, tilizing, etc during the field preparation in competing and rubber industry and its by- workshops. the strengths of industry clus- value chain with emphasis handicrafts, and specialty surviving at the present level products. Co-chairman Harrison ters and products in Central on manufacturing and pro- paper. of competition should be re- PRIME aims to serve Haron, provincial director Luzon. cessing. Supplying 85 percent of sponsive to the needs of the “Provinces with signifi- as a platform to launch the of the Department of Trade times.” More than 700 partici- the total world abaca fiber cant fishery resources are pro- manufacturing resurgence and Industry expressed The training will focus on pants and potential inves- production, the Philippines vided orientation sessions on program for the rubber in- hopes that all the coffee business continuity planning, tors and rubber executives prides itself as the world’s export opportunities for sea dustry positioning of the farmers who took the train- financial management, com- products while areas with sig- coming from Malaysia, top producer of abaca fi- pliance with tax regulations, least three business-friend- ing workshop under the nificant coconut resources are Singapore, Thailand, Ja- ber. Despite its dominance DA’s Farmers Field School understanding trademarks ly regions in Mindanao trained on export opportuni- pan, India and European in the world market, how- will improve their farming and copyrights, Association of ties for the growing coco coir with ARMM as the new countries attended the rub- ever, the country is con- methods in the planting, Southeast Asian Nations eco- and coco sugar markets,” the marketing hub for various ber industry conference. fronted by the reality that growing and harvesting of nomic integration, pro-green statement read. (Daphne Mag- economic development, as rubber products. (Notredame News) abaca remains a poor man’s coffee and produce some of turo / BUSINESS WORLD) This year the confer- crop. The small farmers get the best coffee in the coun- meager income from abaca try. (Philpress News) philippine cluster bulletin AICCEP forms... production, and this even- tually forces them to shift The Philippine Cluster Bulletin is the monthly publication of the Malaysian palm... ARMM Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (AICCEP) a with a good sustainabil- The AICCEP is the to other crops. (Jose Bimbo joint project of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and ity plan to continue all the third industry clustering Santos / INTERAKSYON Khair-il Anuar told busi- the Department of Trade and Industry of the Autonomous Region of six industry clusters in the project handled by Inooka NEWS) ness reporters. Muslim Mindanao. (DTI-ARMM). ARMM and submit to JICA after winding up the Na- While exploring ex- ,” Assistant Trade Secretary tional Industry Cluster Ca- pansion opportunities in AURELIO A.PENA Mapping of seaweed... Editor in Chief Abubacar Datumanong pacity Enhancement Proj- the Philippines, Malaysia told project management ect in 2013 and the first pi- new better quality seaweed also wants to ship at least YUMI BALSE officers during a recent lot Davao DICCEP in 2010 varieties that have higher MIWAKO OIKAWA 500,000 tons of refined palm MARY MAYLENE AQUINO Davao meeting. AICCEP, NICCEP and carrageenan content. It oil to its Southeast Asian Associates The sustainability plan DICCEP are all joint proj- could take a while to grow neighbor this year, Lee will be reviewed carefully MARY MINA F. REMIS ects of JICA and the De- at the laboratory, but the said. (ABS-CBN News) Production and Circulation Manager by Inooka to see how JICA partment of Trade and In- long wait will be worth can extend the AICCEP dustry. . (Philpress News) it for Tawi-Tawi seaweed Sulu coffee... ARMM CORRESPONDENTS project for another two farmers and growers and Harrison Haron Sulu years, according to Datu- the whole seaweed indus- soil medium to use, how to Filemon Romero Tawi-tawi manong. JICA cites... try,” Dra Romero said. prepare the seeds for sow- Domeng Narsico Basilan Khalikuzaman Baraguir Maguindanao The possible extension During her report ing, putting up sun shades, Once an industry clus- Mautante Marohombsar Lanao del Sur of the project was also dis- to JICA consultants, Dra mulching the soil and fi------ter is organized, the team cussed by Inooka with the Romero presented a se- nally, how to transport the ADVISERS can strengthen their or- seedlings properly from PMO’s and the Assistant ries of slide-show pictures ganization by conducting nursery to the planting site. ABUBACAR DATUMANONG Trade Secretary who also showing the seaweed cul- DTI-ARMM Assistant Regional Secretary regular activities and proj- “All these steps are very Department of Trade and Industry took up the group’s desire tivars in different stages of ects guided by clear plans important for the farmer ORG Complex, Cotabato City, Maguindanao for a benchmarking visit growth in numerous glass and strategies to succeed, who wants to produce the to Japan to observe how discs inside the MSU sea- TETSUO INOOKA according to Inooka. best coffee seedlings from JICA Senior Consultant the country promotes the weed laboratory. The JICA consultant his own nursery” Ahalul ------growth of its small and Dra Romero said the said. JICA PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM also cited the significant medium enterprises (SME) new seaweed cultivars Some problems they TETSUO INOOKA, chief adviser for industrial development supporting role of the and how industry cluster- will soon be planted at the faced at the nursery farm YUMI BALSE, project coordinator government from both lo- ing helped in the economic sea-based nurseries in the sites include the lack of MIWAKO OIKAWA, sub-chief for business planning cal and national agencies growth of Japan. four selected areas here in water to irrigate the soil which create the conditions and the low percentage of With the project about Tawi-Tawi, allowing them DISCLAIMER that encourage and moti- germination of the coffee to end in June next year to grow robustly in large Editorial responsibility for every issue of the Philippine Cluster Bulletin lies vate farmers, growers, pro- seeds used during the farm solely on the Editor in Chief. Although every effort is made in validating and (2016), JICA wants to know numbers before making proofreading this issue under the time pressure of press deadline, we still ducers, processors, trad- demonstration, but these what more it can do for the them available to seaweed anticipate some avoidable but unintentional errors, omissions and factual ers, investors to boost the were later addressed by the oversights. Being the sole responsibility of the chief editor, it is understood that ARMM after the end of the farmers and growers in the growth of their businesses. coffee cluster team, accord- NO member of the AICCEP project teams from either DTI or JICA is liable for project, according to Inoo- island province. (Philpress ing to Ahalul. (Philpress any errors, omissions and oversights in every issue of the Philippine Cluster ka. (Philpress News) News) News) Bulletin. SEPT-OCT 2015 PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN  monitor

Land areas for abaca... Rubber cluster... Farmer makes... Poultry to attract... tions. These three areas as low income for them. the research team,, the rub- nuts in a period of three ASEAN members. “But to integration. But for her, the planned, are in the towns of Considered one of the ber cluster team was able to realize the region’s poten- government should focus Madamba, Calanogas and abaca industry cluster’s top months. Usually, 5 nuts use the regular office staff make one kilo of copra. If the tial, MSMEs still need to on helping MSMEs survive Balabagan. priorities, this pilot abaca of the City Agriculture Of- do more in terms of Halal in the large ASEAN mar- Alug said high qual- nursery project started on copra is sold at P35 per kilo, fice which is under the of- certification” Boniao said. ket. ity abaca seedlings (corms) the last quarter this year the gross sales amounts to fice of the City Mayor Rose Mindanao plays an im- Latest data from the to be planted in these pilot (2015) and will end as P175. Deduct the expenses Furigay, who also heads the of P80 and you get a net in- portant role in trade among DTI showed that MSMEs in nurseries will be the main planned in 2017, according neighboring countries Ma- Bukidnon generated 6,561 source of abaca seedlings to Alug. rubber industry. come of P95 from one tree. “Since the major indus- On the other hand, you laysia, Indonesia, Brunei, jobs with domestic sales of for all the abaca farmers in Technical assistance and Singapore, according P225.52 million. the three areas in Lanao del had been provided to the try of Lamitan is rubber and rent a tree for three months our city mayor is our indus- at P90. The net income from to Boniao. Presently DTI is focus- Sur. projects of the abaca indus- Boniao said the large ing on key MSME indus- Abaca farmers in the try cluster team by the Fiber try cluster chair person, we each tree is P270 if you tap were able to complete our it for toddy and make that multinational companies try clusters such as coffee, province are presently Industry Development Au- in Northern Mindanao will cacao, coco coir, processed growing any variety of aba- thority (FIDA) in Region 9 survey project according into coco sugar. It makes to our timetable,” Narsico sense to produce coco sugar not have a problem with fruits, nuts and rubber for ca available to them, which which considers Lanao del their exports come ASEAN turn out to be low quality, Sur one of the largest abaca said. than copra. (Zac Sarian / exports. (Rappler.com) low volume abaca plants growing provinces in the The results of the up- MANILA BULLETIN) that had been generating country. (Philpress News) dated database of Lamitan’s Clusters help... and the other areas. Why rubber plantations were Crafts training... the clusters? Well, that sim- very helpful in planning What did Manny Bar- “We’ve got to help these plifies the transfer of tech- Tuna exports up... In 2014, the Philippine the next phases of their ac- tocillo do? He spearheaded nologies, production strat- Fisheries Development Au- abaca farmers find other tivities in the city which in- the formation of the Region egies and coordination of which topped 58,660 MT in thority office in General cluded technology training, sources of income from the 12 Mango Industry Devel- abaca they grow and turn activities. 2014 – up from just 29,660 Santos City reported a to- management training, train- opment Council (MIDC) of into fiber. Selling the fiber One activity is the train- MT in 2013. tal of 193,867.55 MT in fish ing on tapping techniques, which he was the founding While the volume of to waiting traders had al- ing on good agricultural landings - about 90 percent quality management train- president and holds the po- tuna exports last year in- for tuna and tuna-like spe- ways been the traditional practices. Another is value- ing, etc, according to Nar- sition to the present. Among creased, it still is way below cies. way of earning from abaca, adding to increase incomes. sico. (Philpress News) others, the strategy is to the 2010 volume of 110,489 The bulk of these land- but farmers are complain- Development of business MT. ings, at 92,387.36 MT, how- ing about the low buying teach the mango growers entrepreneurship is another Major export destina- ever comprise frozen tuna Govt wants to... prices,” Alug said. the improved techniques of important program of the tions include the U.S., Japan of which 65,493.15 MT are production to increase their present their ideas on busi- Once these abaca farm- MIDC. and United Kingdom. imported from Papua New ers know that there are yields as well as to cut their In orchard manage- The rise in export vol- Guinea, Taiwan, Japan, ness potentials in local and expenses so they will make export production of bam- many ways to diversify ment, the mango owners ume coincided with the in- Marshall Islands and Ko- and turn abaca fibers into a profit. are taught proper prun- creased in tuna landings last rea. boo crafts especially with Mango growers were this year’s ASEAN integra- different kinds of market- ing, fertilization, spraying year totaling 384,942 metric General Santos city is formed into industry clus- tion. able products, they will no against pests and diseases, tons from both commercial home to six of the country’s ters in the four provinces Invited as speakers are longer be dependent on irrigation and the like. By and municipal fishing oper- big tuna canneries. The and two cities. There are ations. General Santos City Edgardo Manda, president a single company buying adopting the good agricul- two others are located in three clusters in South Co- continues to account for the of Philippine Bamboo Fed- all their abaca fiber at low tural practices, the farmers Zamboanga City. (Edwin tabato, for instance. The bulk of the country’s total Espejo / INTERAKSYON eration, DTI Assistant Sec- prices, according to Alug. can produce higher yield same with North Cotabato tuna landings. News) retary Blesilda Lantayona, (Philpress News) of good quality fruits at a Department of Science and lower cost. ( Zac Sarian / Technology (DOST) direc- MANILA BULLETIN) industry commodity under 152 rubber farmers... Isabela dairy... tor Victor Mariano and its Provincial Commodity Batch 5, held in June 9 to 1 ing, Sengal, Maloong, San Land Bank manager Tony daily cash inflow of about Investment Plan. and September 9 to 11, 2015 Jose, Bohenange, Buahan Reyes. Sarmiento firm... P184 per cattle head for raaw The dairy enterprise were supported and fund- and Sta Clara, all in the city About 200 participants, ed by a government agency, of Lamitan. by offering to fund the es- milk production. This will project will be complement- mostly bamboo enthusi- the ARMM Department of “Our training proj- tablishment of a large palm also popularize milk con- ed by a farm-to-market road asts, furniture shop own- Agriculture. ect for rubber farmers has oil nursery in the ARMM sumption among children, project under the PRDP’s ers, businessmen and other Farmer participants stirred up so much inter- region. addressing malnutrition is- rural infrastructure develop- stakeholders showed up who took the recent train- est among rubber farmers ‘Many palm oil growers sues. ment component . The farm and attended the congress, ing in rubber technol- in this city and the whole With vast tracks of land are hampered by the high road will cover Mallig’s five actively participating in the ogy and farm management island of Basilan, that we cost of importing high qual- suitable for growing dairy come from the following may need to train more rub- dairy-producing villages. discussions and open forum ity seedlings. The process of animals, Isabela has identi- barangays : Boheyakan, ber farmers in the coming (DA News) covering various issues and importing alone is so com- fied dairy its top priority concerns of bamboo grow- Bulingan, Balobo, Magan- months,” Narsico told JICA da, Balagtasan, Lumuton, consultants during a recent plicated with red tape, it’s ing and processing. so difficult to import palm virgin coconut oil to world Look, Arco, Ulame, Ubit, Davao meeting. (Philpress Coconut by... Serrano said bamboo oil seedlings,” Ibay told the markets. Colonia, Baungus, Bulant- News) coconut farmers and grow- experts, farmers, academic One machinery the JICA consultants. ers. personnel, local govern- cluster team hopes to ac- that consumers are buying Ibay said the cluster Benchmarking trips to ment officials and entrepre- Dagupan bangus’... quire is a Decorticating the real Dagupan bangus in team is thankful for the successful coconut farms in neurs from different parts City officials led the tag- Machine that turns piles of the market. help they are getting from various parts of Mindanao of Luzon participated ac- ging of authentic Dagupan old coconut husks into coco City Agriculture Officer the PCA most especially for had been conducted by the tively in the bamboo con- bangus at the city’s brand- peat and coco coir, two by- Emma J. Molina said that their various assistance to cluster team, including a gress. Engineered bamboo ing center inside the con- Dagupan City is the first to products simultaneously. small palm oil farmers who visit to a successful coconut products by a number of ex- signment area at the Mag- tag its bangus and the first Market demand for coco want to expand their farms. farmer, a national awardee port firms were displayed saysay Market recently. to officially recognize its peat and coco coir is huge The palm oil cluster in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, and highlighted during the One official said the local produce as Dagupan in global markets, accord- team, according to Ibay, has who is producing and ex- congress tagging will give added val- bangus. (Liezle Basa Inigo ing to Panganda. (Philpress submitted its application to porting coconut sugar and Serrano said the activity ue to the city’s main product / MANILA BULLETIN) News) is also in support of the Na- aside from the guarantee the Cooperative Develop- tional Greening Program of ment Authority (CDA) to turn their industry cluster capacity in the island will the government and the de- Power plants... JICA adviser explains.. formally into a Coopera- normalize especially with velopment of green technol- try clusters this way will from government sources tive and has opened its own will normalize the power the entry of new power ogy and businesses. (Jess Malabanan/ Central Luzon help encourage other in- to sustain the activities bank account to be able to stability of the island,” said plants” he said. dustries to adopt the indus- and projects of the clus- Noriel Christopher Reyes, The commercial opera- Daily) transact business officially. try clustering approach to ter,” Inooka said. (Philpress (Philpress News) Science Research Specialist tions of the 300 MW two- promote the growth and of News) II of the Department of En- unit power plant of SMCP is Banana exports... various industries and help ergy (DOE) Electric Power expected by May and June mated to be around 48 mil- in the economic develop- Industry Management Bu- of next year, 100 MW of Sec lion boxes with each box ment of your region” Inoo- Lamitan rubber... reau during the Information by April while 150 MW TSI weighing 13 kgs. ka stressed. (Oct 5-7), Batch 4 (Oct 8-10) learn the correct way of Drive on the Mindanao En- unit two by March 2016. During the long US eco- Inooka said the DTI can and Batch 5 (Oct 14-16) in tapping rubber latex from ergy Plan and the Impacts Based on the MPMC nomic sanction on Iran, a do this by showing success- the same venue and capped professional tappers in the of El Nino on the power data, all the committed Philippine Quarantine Ser- ful examples of industry by their Graduation Cer- rubber industry who made sector or Energy Conser- power projects in Mindan- clustering in the ARMM to vice report (2012-2013) data emony in October 20, 2015, sure each farmer had actual vation Program (Enercon) ao reached a total of 1,920 motivate and promote more hands-on tapping training on Monday at the Pinnacle MW as of October 31. These showed a total of 6,086,499 industry clustering in the at the Datu Rizal Cultural experience, ” Narsico said. Hotel and Suites. power projects are expected carton boxes were exported region, using the clustering Center here in Lamitan Reyes added that the to start operations between to Iran as of June 2013 com- approach of the ARMM In- City. The three first train- The 13 barangays where energy sector projected this year until 2018. pared to the 9,524,208 boxes dustry Cluster Capacity En- ing batches were funded by the farmer participants some 100 to 200 MW pow- Of the 1,920 MW, exported during the same hancement Project or AIC- JICA while the two batches came from, included Sta er shortfall beginning this 1,760MW of which is coal- period in the preceding CEP, a joint project of JICA were funded by the ARMM Clara, Baungus, Boheyakan, month until February of based, 11.90 MW is oil- year, slashing more than and the DTI-ARMM. Department of Agriculture Balagtasan, Bulingan, Lu- 2016 because of the extend- based while only 148.40 half of the Philippine ba- “It has been shown by and Fisheries. muton, Arco, Maloong San ed long drought or El Niño. MW comes from the renew- nana export volume. (Ace your various clusters that “There was a lot of Jose, Balobo, Colonia, Li- “By March of next year able, hydropower plants. June Perez / SUN STAR the clustering approach has interest and enthusiasm mook, Bohenanga and Ubit. a very good infrastructure we expected that the power (SUN STAR DAVAO) DAVAO) among the participants to (Philpress News) to attract financial support 8 PHILIPPINE CLUSTER BULLETIN SEPT-OCT 2015

AICCEP PROJECT MAP