In a major effort to strengthen sustainable agriculture and socio-economic resilience among indigenous communities, members of the Mamanwa tribe of Brgy. Binocaran, Malimono, Surigao Del Norte, participated in a three-day intensive capacity-building workshop on Abaca Production Management and Post-Harvest Processing, hosted at the National Abaca Research Center (NARC) in Visayas State University last July 14-16, 2026.

Under the Sustainable Abaca Production and Fiber Processing Enterprise Livelihood Program, organized by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Surigao del Norte, the training provided indigenous participants with end-to-end agricultural expertise. The multi-day training program offered a hands-on curriculum tailored to transition local farming into enterprise opportunities. The participants learned about the current state of the abaca industry in the Philippines and how abaca has been supporting the country’s economy behind the scenes. Not only did they learn the theoretical foundations of the industry, but they also acquired the necessary skills through practical sessions in a farm setting. From abaca varietal and cultivar identification and plant breeding to experiencing and understanding the complexity of sterile mass production of disease-free planting material via tissue culture technology, to land preparation, planting techniques, pest and disease management, and harvest and post-harvest handling and processing, the indigenous participants are equipped for the integration of the livelihood program.

Recognizing the need for immediate and diversified income resources, the training extended to teach handicraft making, using “umbak”, or abaca dried leaf sheaths, as the primary raw material. The Mamanwa participants were trained to process raw materials into woven high-value products ready for market, not only showcasing the traditional art of weaving but also the quality of the crafts.

The program ended with an interactive site visit to NARC’s facilities and germplasm farm and demonstrations of the center’s technologies. The Mamanwa delegates observed the live production process of abaca, gaining practical insight into how the theoretical lessons were applied in full-scale commercial farming.

This training initiative highlights the Surigao del Norte provincial government’s commitment, through PESO, to fostering inclusive growth by honoring indigenous heritage while providing access to modern technologies for a community-centric livelihood program and support for the revitalization of the abaca industry in their region.

With the skills and knowledge acquired from this capacity-building workshop, the Mamanwa participants return to their communities ready to establish their own farm