Koronadal City — A total of 56,504 rubber seedlings have been released as planting materials to 113 farmers who applied for the Plant-Now-Pay-Later program of the provincial government last year.

This was learned from Mr. Romulo Pacres, Farm Worker of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Governor Manny F. Piñol has declared rubber as the banner commodity in the provincial government’s high value corps development program which also include oil palm, coconut, and cardava banana.

The program has been boosted with the declaration of North Cotabato as the lead province in rubber development by Agriculture Sec. Domingo Panganiban.

Sec. Panganiban released P5 million in support of the provincial government’s rubber program last year. Additional funds are expected to be released within the year as the DA has committed about P30 million as aid in the production of new rubber clones.

Gov. Piñol, meanwhile, continues to take the lead in the rubber advocacy nationwide to ensure a market for North Cotabato’s rubber seedlings. The governor signed an agreement with BioFuels Inc. of Bacolod City last January for the marketing of North Cotabato rubber seedlings in Negros Occidental and nearby provinces.

The governor’s efforts continue to pay off as a group of big Filipino-Chinese businessmen or taipans have been reported to show interest in rubber given its good prospects in the market. Local rubber prices hit as high as 34 pesos per kilo last year. Experts predict a steady increase in world prices which could double within the next five years.

In his 8th annual State of the Province Address last Jan. 31, Gov. Piñol cited the achievements and benefits of the rubber program to the people of Cotabato.

“This sector alone has provided jobs to thousands from simple manual laborers to budders and has given hope of a better life to so many including widows, housewives, out-of-school youth and farmers who will receive P4 for every seedling that is budded and sold,” he said.

The provincial government is targeting to expand rubber areas in the province by 20 thousand hectares this year with about 750 farmers availing of the Plant-Now-Pay-Later program. (by C. Bautista PIO Cotabato/PIA 12).