Philippines looking to revitalise natural rubber industry

Manila – The Philippine government has vowed support for the natural rubber (NR) industry in the country, with a new agreement to support the local Rubber Research Institute (PRRI).

As part of the deal, the department of agriculture will support PRRI build a new 'NR facility' in a seven-hectare piece of land in Zamboanga Sibugay, the ‘rubber capital’ of the country.

The land will be used for the building of a research and development unit for rubber industry, said the department of agricultural 13 June.

In addition, the agreement will allow PRRI to use an existing rubber testing laboratory in Zamboanga Sibugay and extends the institute’s tenure.

During a signing ceremony, the Philippine agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. pledged “to continue to collaborate to bring forth a robust rubber industry.”

“We renew our commitment to ensure the delivery of accurate, efficient, and effective public service in the agriculture industry,” he added.

The PRRI was created in 1975 to promote the development of the rubber industry in the Philippines through R&D initiatives.

Recently, the institute has been addressing rubber tree diseases while “ensuring the steady increase in rubber prices,” according to the agriculture agency.

It is also in charge of encouraging rubber farming and processing through the provision of technical support and the promotion of modern technologies.

The institute currently supports the livelihood of 700,000 rubber farmers in the country.