REGIONAL ECONOMIC SITUATIONER Western ... - NEDA-RDC VI

The rising cost of oil prices caused raw materials to increase making the
country, in general, less competitive with other furniture manufacturing countries
like China and Vietnam. Political instability and the worldwide economic slump
were also cited as factors affecting the industry.
Iloilo could be as competitive as Cebu in terms of product development
and design. It has an advantage over the latter in the availability of local
materials for furniture development such as bamboo and rattan. Joining
internationally organized furniture shows (especially the rich European Union
market) would boost the sales of Iloilo furniture producers. Along this line,
government assistance is vital not just for the furniture industry, but also for
handicrafts export industry.
D. Gamefowl
The gamefowl industry contributes around P8-10 billion annually to the
national economy. If feeds and veterinary products supporting the gamefowl
industry are included, the national economic contribution could reach up to P30-
40 billion per year. This is the significance of gamefowls to the economy
according to Mr. Ricardo Palmares, President of the National Federation of
Gamefowl Breeders Associations and the Panay-Guimaras Gamefowl Breeders
Association.
Production of gamefowls from commercial farms (>100 fowls) in Region
VI has decreased by half (50%) over the last 2 years. This was mainly due to
the proliferation of small and backyard breeders now comprising around 90% of
regional and national breeders. Likewise, cockers who are normally buyers of
ready-to-fight fowls started to breed their own fowls. Industry-wide, though
gamefowl production is increasing every year. As a result there are more
cockfights but lesser sales of gamefowls.
A commercial farm economically supports 3-4 families on the average.
The Federation has now 1,500 individual members representing 12 associations
all over the country.
The ban of gamefowl breeding in the USA, save for just two states, opens
an export potential for local breeders to markets like Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau
and Mexico. In order to promote this, the government should lift restrictions on
gamefowl exports. On the other hand, the local feeds and veterinary businesses
like Thunderbird have already started exporting their products.
Gamefowls breeding and cockfighting to remain as a decent and viable
industry should be promoted, as being done by the Federation, as a sport and
tourist-attracting industry and not as a mere gambling industry. The Federation
strives to encourage breeders, big or small, to formally join the associations
where teachings of good values and attitudes formation are promoted.
E. Handmade Paper
There is a pioneering handmade paper industry in the region - Creative
Paper, owned by Mr. Davy John Barlin based in San Miguel, Iloilo. The business
started operating in 1993 with 40 personnel. Raw materials used are abaca and
salago, a weed mostly found in Aklan province.
Production peaked to almost 20,000 sheets in 2004, but it produced only
half in 2005. Demand for handmade paper declined with the emergence of
fancy paper. In order to stay competitive in the industry, a foreign-made
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