IN
INABANGA
Licking poverty thru
the town's raffia biz
Killing
two birds with one stone?
.
Any which way one looks at it, there is no
denying that this is exactly what Team Inabanga is aiming at.
The
jackpot is making raffia as another viable alternative to lick poverty out of
the books of Inabanga's hunger problem. Attracting tourists is one option thereby
opening the old town's rare cache of cultural heritage and traditions.
Also,
going back to weaving saguran presents the people a chance to get rooted to their
identity and then work from there.
This
centuries old raffia loom-weaving industry utilizes fibers extracted from young
unopened buri leaf sheaths. Most people believe raffia loom-weaving in fact started
in Inabanga.
Although
predominantly a home based endeavor, the industry has been revolutionized recently
into a firm level production.
| | | This
is how the local leaders see the promise of raffia as major local provider of
income opportunity.
In
this town, weaving is so famous that it is done in 40 of the town's 50 barangays,
a proof that when Inabanganons want the town branded as synonymous to world-class
raffia products, it could not be far from truth.
The
lowly saguran (old raffia weave) was revolutionized to sell that there are available
technologies that could enhance the coarse, rough and drab weave into the world
class hinabol. | To
emphasize that, four of the best weavers in town embark on a big project, weaving
the world's longest continuous raffia to highlight their claim.
Now
introduced with hip op-art designs and color patterns, the raffia is making waves
as interior design accents and prime raw material for items of modern lifestyle.
Raffia,
a woven fiber is a popular material for placemats, table runners, throw pillows,
pillowcases, wall decors, window blinds and screens, bags and pouches, coasters,
frames and is now being used as garment accents.
For
an age-long industry that has suited revolutionaries under Dagohoy and has ever
since supplied the mats for drying palay in this basically agricultural town,
it may be safe to say that the raffia has been so intricately woven into the people's
life and identity.
Inabanga,
one of the few Bohol towns that has kept alive its raffia weaving through the
traditional handlooms. The town now wants to grab world attention and possibly
corner a big market of raffia raw materials and finished products in a bid to
drastically redo the town's economic landscape.
For
placemats alone, Inabanga can produce 26,000 in a month and the Department of
Trade and Industry admitted they have taken a serious look at the product development
to help.
With
this bright prospect, DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte admitted the immediate
problem now is how to get the volume hit the right market, but the local officialdom
looked at exactly the same angle.
Now
taking a second hard look at raffia weaving not just to own the recognition as
the home of the best weavers in the world, the municipality is rummaging for opportunities
that the industry would bring to its people.
First,
it's the pride keeping the best weavers but most of all, raffia is a potent industry
that is capable of lifting people out of poverty.
Seen
already as the next best tourism circuit in northwestern Bohol, packaging Inabanga
raffia as indispensable tourism take-home gift item has elated Team Inabanga.
(PIA) | 
