The Philippines is updating its strategic plan for the development and modernization of the abaca sector and aims to finalize the Abaca Industry Roadmap 2026 to 2030 by December, according to the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF).
The PCAF National Sector Committee on Fiber Crops reported earlier this month that industry stakeholders have been refining the draft roadmap since October 2025. The revisions follow sector consultations held in July, with the target completion set before the year ends.
The roadmap serves as a government-led plan to boost the country’s global competitiveness in abaca production by increasing output, improving fiber quality, and strengthening the entire value chain. According to the committee, ongoing revisions are meant to identify gaps, field-level issues, and implementation challenges, while crafting strategies and corrective measures to address them.
PCAF, the policy advisory arm of the Department of Agriculture, leads private sector driven consultations in shaping plans, policies, and programs for the agriculture and fisheries sector.
The Philippines is the worlds top exporter of abaca fiber, accounting for around 86 percent of global output. Abaca is a natural and sustainable resource used in paper, cordage, textiles, and handicrafts.
Despite its global standing, the industry continues to face significant challenges, including traditional farming practices, limited access to modern technologies, weak disease management, and insufficient research and development support.
Production data from 2015 to 2024 presented in the meeting showed a drop to about 46,000 metric tons in 2023 and 45,000 metric tons in 2024, down from a range of 61,000 to 76,000 metric tons between 2015 and 2022. Factors behind the decline include farmers shifting to copra amid higher prices, election related aid that reduced incentives to produce abaca, and the impact of Typhoon Pepito in late 2024 which heavily damaged plantations in Caramoran, the top producing municipality in Catanduanes.
The sector also continues to struggle with recurring diseases that reduce yield and affect fiber quality.
“Strengthening the fiber industry contributes to rural employment, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience, thereby complementing the broader objectives for the development of the agriculture and fishery sector,” the committee said.
During the same meeting, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority presented updates on development strategies for other natural fibers including cotton, salago, sisal, and pina. Its planned initiatives include expanding and rehabilitating fiber crop areas to secure sustainable supply, promoting mechanization and technology adoption to increase efficiency, and enhancing collaboration with local governments, national agencies, the academe, private firms, and other industry players.
The agency also outlined measures to strengthen research and innovation for better fiber quality and new products, intensify capacity building for farm beneficiaries, improve market linkages and value chain integration, and promote policy support and investment opportunities to drive the modernization and long term growth of the natural fiber sector.