RDC-X supports HB 2912 passage to develop PH rubber industry

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By Apipa P. Bagumbaran (APB/PIA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO (PIA)-–The Regional Development Council (RDC)-X expressed support to the passage of House Bill (HB) 2912 to hasten the development of rubber industry in the country.

The council believes that HB 2912 will strengthen all rubber players and stakeholders and generate employment in the countryside.

HB 2912 is entitled “An act to develop the rubber industry, establishing for the purpose the Philippine Rubber Industry Development Board, defining its powers and functions and appropriating funds therefor.”

Dr. Rosalina Huerbana, vice-chairperson of the RDC-X Economic Development Committee, said the house bill is aligned with the agriculture sector outcome as indicated in Chapter 80 of the Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 of expanding economic opportunities in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Huerbana, who presented the proposal to the body, said it is expected that the passage of the HB 2912 will respond to critical issues such as low quality, less productivity, and low access to the market as experienced in the region.

Rubber production in Northern Mindanao grew only by 4.5 percent to 12,964 metric tons in 2017 from 12,402 metric tons in 2016.

Huerbana further said that the region’s natural rubber production was recorded at 1.4 metric tons per hectare in 2016 as against Thailand, the world’s largest producer and exporter, which posted a very high yield of 76 metric tons per hectare.

Section 2 of the House Bill indicates that the government shall undertake to develop the Philippine rubber as a major participant in the rubber global value chain by accelerating the industries overall growth through expanding the improving the productivity and quality of natural rubber production among all regions in the country.

The region has 8700 hectares of area planted with rubber with the province of Bukidnon comprising about 84 percent of the total area planted.