By Kenneth Marcos 
In a modest barangay hall surrounded by abaca plants swaying in the breeze, farmers from three Aurora communities gathered to celebrate a milestone they once thought was out of reach. After months of hands-on lessons under rain and sun, they were finally graduating from a program designed to help them face a changing climate.
The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), together with the local government of Dipaculao and partner agencies, held the graduation ceremony for the Climate Smart Field School (CSFS) on Abaca Production in Barangay Puangi, Dipaculao, Aurora. Twenty-five farmers from Puangi, Dibutunan, and Gupa completed the intensive training aimed at strengthening climate-resilient and sustainable abaca farming.
The program supported national efforts to revive and expand the fiber industry under the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and PhilFIDA Executive Director Arnold Ali Atienza. Abaca remains one of the Philippines’ most important export fibers, widely used in paper products, textiles, and various industrial materials.
OIC-Regional Director Jose L. Catalla, in his message to the graduates, stressed the value of continuous learning as farmers confront stronger typhoons, shifting rainfall patterns, and plant diseases. He said improved knowledge and better techniques are vital for abaca growers to stay competitive and resilient.
OIC-Technical Assistance Division head Manolito F. Apalla led the awarding of certificates recognizing the farmers’ completion of 15 training sessions. Local officials, including representatives from the Office of Dipaculao Mayor Alan Tolentino, the Municipal Agriculture Office led by Verzalyn P. Mamaclay, and Puangi Barangay Captain Lilia V. Estonilo, expressed full support for the initiative. They also commended PhilFIDA for investing in the skills and confidence of abaca growers.
During the ceremony, graduates shared video presentations and personal testimonies showing how the field school helped them improve their farming practices. Many highlighted lessons on pest and disease management, soil care, and new techniques in fiber processing—topics that directly affect the quality and market value of abaca.
The event closed with the awarding of certificates and tokens of appreciation, followed by the ceremonial turnover of abaca planting materials. The gesture signaled the beginning of a stronger partnership between PhilFIDA and Dipaculao’s farming communities, with the goal of building more resilient and thriving abaca plantations in the years ahead.
For the graduates, the field school was more than a series of lessons—it was an investment in their families, their livelihood, and the sustainability of an industry that has long supported rural communities in Aurora.
Pwersa Balita – Your Trusted Source in Agri News