Biliran company plans export of raw coconut fiber to China

REPORT FROM BUSINESSWORLD NAVAL, BILIRAN — The Biliran Integrated Coconut Industry, Inc. (BICI) plans to export to China raw coconut fiber for the manufacturing of geotextile nets. Roselyn Espina-Paras, president and chief executive of BICI, said they will ship the raw coconut fiber through their partners in Manila. She did not indicate the volume of fiber required by their buyers in China. The loose raw fiber is made of 100% biodegradable coconut fiber. "Our Chinese buyers demanded for many tons of coco fiber. We are optimistic to supply even half or less of the requirement," Ms. Paras said. She said they opted to export the raw materials instead of the finished geotextile nets to minimize production cost. Geotextile nets are used to prevent soil erosion on mountain slopes and river banks. Ms. Paras said that the BICI plant can generate only one ton of coco fiber a day. Raw materials are sourced from local farmers of this town and neighboring towns. "The quantity is the problem. The more we produce, the better," Ms. Paras added. The existing machines can make four geotextile nets a day. Rhine Sabonsolin, plant manager, said it takes eight hours to produce a geotextile net. He said the production process improved last year after the Department of Science and Technology provided a machine and technical assistance amounting to almost P1 million. "With the technology intervention, we were able to increase the production and revenue by 50%," Mr. Sabonsolin said. The company said the machines helped maximize the use of the coconut fiber in the manufacturing of high-value added products. Ms. Paras, who is a town councilor in Biliran’s capital town, said she has introduced several measures mandating the preservation of the coconut tree and its by-products to sustain the coconut industry and improve exports of coco-based products. — Sarwell Q. Meniano /BusinessWorld