Davao Oriental Is the top producer Of abaca fiber In the region and the fourth In the Philippines. Bulk of the province’s produce, however, is raw abaca fiber. production oi dagmay clothi handicrafts and harm-nocks Is relatively low. Hence, leaving a lot of opportunlties for expanslon and dlversiflcation.

The abaca farmers in Davao Oriental generally just extract abaca fiber from their harvested plants and dlrectly sell these raw materials to abaca traders (barangay traders, municipal traders, and GEES). These are brought to Davao City and other parts of the country, i.e., Samar. Leyte, and Bicol, for further processing into paper pulp, ropes and cordage, and Other abaca—based finished products.

Some abaca fibers are Woven Into “dagmay” cloth by the natives of Caraga and worn since their ancestors’ era, With the fashion trends and innovations, the cloth was converted into coin PLJrses, wallets, fashion bags, housewares, and other fashion accessories. Now, abaca materials hove been processed into high—value products like sinamay cloth and paper. On the aggregate, the abaca industry in the province translates into an annual average production of 7,549 metric tons or an estimated annual income of P29B million.