THE ZAMBOANGA Peninsula Rubber Industry Cluster Team will be promoting rubber production in latex producing Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, for domestic consumption and for export according to the region’s regional Agriculture office.
Zamboanga accounts for 43% of the country’s total natural rubber production in 2009, according to a data from the regional agricultural office.
Several government agencies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)and the Department of Agriculture (DOA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). as well as civil society groups will comprise the group
Members of the academe, as well as representatives of the federation of rubber cooperatives, rubber processors, traders, and exporters will also be included in the group, whose functions include creating policy recommendations and spearheading rubber advocacy, productivity and quality, processing and marketing, and financing and investment.
The Agriculture Department said that the establishment of the Philippine Rubber Industry Development Council will be announced soon to provide support to regional initiatives.