MANILA, Philippines — The measure declaring Catanduanes as the abaca capital of the country lapsed into law on April 15.
Republic Act 11700 recognizes the importance of the abaca industry “as a driver of rural development” with its potential to “increase the country’s earnings tremendously.”
“In recognition of its status as the country’s biggest producer of abaca and making the Philippines world-renowned as ‘Manila Hemp’ in the fiber industry, and in support to the agricultural development of the province, it is hereby declared that Catanduanes be the abaca capital of the Philippines,” the law read.
Catanduanes has the highest abaca production in the Philippines, contributing 31.72 percent to the country’s production in 2020, 33.74 percent in 2019 and 33.37 percent in 2018.
The province reportedly accounts for more than 80 percent of abaca production in Bicol, with 21,500 hectares of abaca plantations.