The first 6.5 Metric Tons abaca fiber delivery of NAGPAKABANA Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NMPC) to Newtech Pulp Incorporated (NPI) at Baloi, Iligan City was on March 22, 2021.
NMPC accepted the responsibility as the new lead ARBO last January 11, 2021 per recommendation by various stakeholders and major players of the abaca value chain industry in the LABACO Cluster.
The DAR-IFAD Project ConVERGE supported the change of the lead ARBO based on a prior assessment of the capacity of NAGPAKABANA MPC to handle great responsibilities and sustain the abaca fiber enterprise in order to meet its general objective in reducing poverty incidence in the LABACO Cluster.
The first two months of NMPC as the new lead ARBO headed by Mr. Monico Lagubis Jr. was quite challenging especially regarding its financial stability but the determination of the cooperative proved to be unwavering with the support of Project ConVERGE Camiguin and Mindanao Abaca Sustainability Initiative (MASI)-Camiguin.
Photo credits to: Mr. James Arnell Semitara of MASI Camiguin and Anna Liza Lagubis of NMPC
