Buri palm, the source of raffia and buntal, is abundantly grown in Southern Tagalog and Western Visayas.  Buntal is extracted from the mature petiole of the buri palm while raffia is obtained from the very young unopened buri leaves.  While Quezon and Marinduque provinces are the main sources of buntal, Romblon is the major source of raffia with the biggest volume supplied by Hinugusan, Tablas Island.

 

It is for this reason that Hinugusan was chosen as the site of the weaving center for raffia.  This Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Export Trade and Promotion (BETP) project, conceptualized in 1993 and completed in 1997, provided technical assistance to the Gifts, Toys, and Housewares (GTH) sector by establishing weaving centers that supply the handloom-woven fabrics used as raw materials in the production of handicrafts.  Other recipients of the project are San Fernando, La Union, for maguey; Torrijos, Marinduque, for buntal; and Malinao, Albay, for abaca. The proponent of the Hinugusan project is the Hinugusan Agricultural Reform Community Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. (ARCMPCI), a 30-member cooperative established in 1995 and was primarily engaged in extending low-cost grocery products for each member before the introduction of the handloom weaving technology.

 

The main component of the Hinugusan project is the supply of 10 units of handlooms fabricated by the Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC) and the development of skills on weaving, dyeing, and designing through training programs implemented by the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). Shortly after the equipment was delivered the training courses in weaving and dyeing were conducted.  In all the training courses offered, Ms. Natividad Doroy or Ate Babes to her weavers, stood out among the 19 participants.  Out of curiosity, we started to have a casual talk   with her and we were not surprised when we learned that she was a weaver for 10 years in a Manila-based weaving mill, a consistent Kagawad of Barangay San Agustin from 1989 to 2001, who can boost of excellent rapport with the local government.  No doubt why she was highly recommended by DTI as center supervisor.

 

As the skills of the weavers improved, the cooperative participated in the Barakalan Trade Fairs from 1999 to 2002 wherein it garnered the necessary market exposure.  In 2002, the center started producing raffia fabric for Kitsuiji Manufacturing Corp. in Pasig City and Mercedita, Inc. in San Juan, Metro Manila, with initial order of 20 rolls of 10 yards per roll fabric at P400 per roll or a total value of P10,000.  It was the start of what should have been a rewarding business relationship. While the center was enjoying the recognition earned and its production was gaining momentum, however, the area was hit hard by a typhoon that completely destroyed the center, causing stoppage of its operation. It dampened the spirits of the weavers because of lost hope to join the trade fairs in the coming year.   Even if Ms. Doroy’s courage was failing, the situation did not diminish her vigor, enthusiasm, and aggressiveness.  She distributed the 10 looms in the houses of the members and mobilized them to make bags for walk-in clients and for the trade fair.  Their concerted efforts paid off, as they were able to generate a cash sale of P5,655 and a negotiated contract of P150,000.

 

To revitalize the cooperative, Ms. Doroy lobbied for the rebuilding of the center by the Tablas local government.  Convinced of her project and of her track record, the local government gave ARCMPCI a P100,000 grant in September 2003 with the check personally issued in her name.  Ms. Doroy made sure that every centavo entrusted to her was accounted for.  The center was completed in January 2004.  Upon completion, seven of the looms were relocated to the center and made operational to meet the demand of the P150,000 contract.  The center was revived, as proudly pointed out by Ms. Doroy, without any outstanding loans to pay off.