The government agency for fiber development is urging traders of fiber and fiber-based products to get a license to maintain the quality standards of the industry, an official said on Tuesday.

Andy Baco, regulatory head of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), underscored the need for traders to obtain a license before they could buy and sell fiber products in the country and abroad.

Baco said a ban on unlicensed traders would help ensure quality control and maintain the standards within the country’s fiber industry.

He said licensing would regulate trading to guarantee that only fibers that meet specific quality criteria would be allowed for export to protect the reputation of Philippine fiber products in the international market.

This can only be achieved by conducting inspections, enforcing standards and monitoring the activities of licensed traders, he added.

“In the regulatory sector, the farmers will bring the commodity that has undergone fiber quality inspection to the licensed traders/exporters. PhilFIDA prohibits traders without a license to trade in order to control the quality of fiber. They are also required to have a warehouse to preserve the lanot or silago,” Baco said at the Usapang Agri radio forum.

Jose Dary Locsin, head of technical assistance unit of PhilFIDA-7, assured fiber farmers of the agency’s assistance in selling their products to existing markets.

PhilFIDA is providing fiber farmers with assistance such as planting materials, livelihood training, disease management and other assistance to improve their livelihood.

“The role of PhilFIDA is to develop the fiber industry and provide the farmers with market assistance to open more livelihood opportunities and increase their income. There is also a related sector outside of production like the fiber-based handicrafts which is prevalent in Cebu” he said in a separate interview. (PNA)