Tinagak: Knocking Doors of Opportunities

‘Only those with brave hearts and unrelenting commitment to steer development would dare go and beat the odds.’

Accessibility and mobility are leading problems in the upland communities. This situation does not exempt barangay Maligang in the town of Kiamba. The barangay has about 261 households of mostly indigenous people. Their main livelihood is farming and source of income. The area is highly suitable to abaca production.

The Fiber Development Authority (FIDA) opened Kiamba ‘door of opportunities’ for Abaca. Unfortunately, the first attempt to organize in the community failed.

In 2001, UDP rekindled their interest in tinagak making, the knotted abaca fiber, by working closely with FIDA in conducting skills training and exposure trips. Thereafter, the Sitio Malayo Tinagak Producers Association was formed. Despite lack in capitalization, the association made a trail for Tinagak production.

Sitio Malayo is a village in Maligang, it is undulating with rivers to traverse, and its roads are hardly passable on rainy days due to slippery stretches and gullies. In this area, Tinagak making is a flourishing industry that preoccupied the people.

Abaca, the primary crop in Maligang became a tool in empowering the indigenous people; women, youth and children by engaging into tinagak making.

Knotting dreams in Maligang…

Fiber became the ‘string of life’ at Maligang; they are now into trading abaca fiber and tinagak. Aside from the Upland Development Programme, there are about 7 more agencies and organizations that provide assistance to the community.

The enterprise started in 2001 and managed by the association and later into a cooperative in September 2003.

The odds…

The nagging problem of farm-to-market roads is still among the major struggles of the community. The deteriorating quality of abaca due to age and diseases is also a serious concern to sustain the enterprise. However, this scenario even pushed the people of Maligang to work harder and achieve their goals.

The knotted strength…

From its lowly beginning, the association is now known as United Maligang Farmers Cooperative with 181 members accumulating a capital build up of some P38 thousand pesos. It has also increased its production of tinagak from 8.35 kilos in 2001 to an average of 140 kilos per month, employing about 115 individuals, most of whom are women, youth and elders. The enterprise has contributed an increase in household income of about P700 to P5 thousand pesos per month. The growth of the cooperative can be attributed to multi-agency efforts with active participation of the community.

The task…

However, despite the success reaped by the cooperative in enterprising, more efforts will be needed to strengthen their cooperative; including the building of capabilities among its officers and intensified education of its members. Achieving the objectives of improving the socio-economic plight of upland dwellers with due concern for the environment is gradually taking shape with the integrated development approach for tinagak production.

Bringing development to Maligang, especially Sitio Malayo, is a formidable journey but seeing how development gradually creeps into the lives of the people is inspiring.

‘Doing knots of fine fibers require patience, perseverance, determination and craftsmanship.’