Presidential candidate Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson aims to tap the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) sector to boost the emerging leather tanning industry in Zamboanga peninsula following his visit there recently with former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Piñol.
In a town hall meeting held in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Wednesday (March 30), Piñol revealed that researchers from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) developed a new coloring material out of the natural resins found in coconut trees, which they have been using for leather tanning.
“First time ko narinig, for leather tanning, pangkulay ng balat pati tela. It’s a new breakthrough. Pero wala lang, parang ganoon lang. ‘Na-discover mo ’yan?’ Wala lang. Dapat ’yang ganyan (ang) sinusuportahan agad ng gobyerno ’yan at bino-boost na kaagad,” according to Piñol.
[It was my first time to hear that, for leather tanning, a coloring material for leather and textile products. It’s a new breakthrough, but for some it’s nothing. ‘Oh, you discovered that? So what?’ This is what the government is supposed to be supporting and boosting right away.]Lacson agreed, saying this domestic leather tanning industry should be marketed abroad, especially in Europe where a lot of people are consuming leather products. He said the government can probably access the European market, which has been outsourcing tanning services from Africa.
“Halimbawa sa Italy, ‘di ba, puro mga leather products doon? E kung sa atin bibili ng pang-tanning, ang laki ng kita ng ating mga coconut farmers, kasi diyan sa coconut nanggagaling. ’Yan ang mga opportunities na nawawala sa atin dahil sa kulang ang suporta ng gobyerno,” Lacson said.
[For example, in Italy, there are lots of leather products there, right? What if they get their tanning materials from us, for sure our coconut farmers would benefit from it, because it is derived from coconuts. Those are opportunities that we’ve been missing due to lack of government support.]Investing in both the MSME and the research and development (R&D) sectors is among the priorities of Lacson under his administration. He said this is not just a campaign promise on his part because he has been infusing funds for these industries in his capacity as senator.
“Hindi ito pangako. Ginagawa na namin, talagang advocate kami ng research and development. Sabi ko nga, taun-taon, nag-au-augment talaga ako ng budget diyan—taun-taon,” according to the presidential candidate.
[This is not a promise, we have already been doing it, because we are true advocates of research and development. Just like what I said, every year I was augmenting the budget (for R&D)—every year.]Lacson is known for guarding the national budget annually during the Senate deliberations for the General Appropriations Act. He has also refused his pork barrel allocation for most of his career as legislator, so he could distribute the money instead to different industries that need financial support.
Lacson and Piñol campaigned in the Zamboanga peninsula this week to push their good governance agenda with vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and senatorial candidate Dr. Minguita Padilla.