On September 4, 2023, DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban met with representatives from Head Sport Philippines and the Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI) to discuss ways to improve the local rubber industry and help rubber farmers boost their income.

During the meeting, Head Sport Philippines proposed installing a modern rubber processing plant that will source raw rubber from local farmers and convert Filipino rubber into a high-quality product. Head is also set to relocate and expand its tennis ball production hub by moving operations from China to Panabo City, Davao del Norte. Its operations are poised to commence operations in the second quarter of 2024.

Senior Usec. Panganiban and PRRI Executive Director Cheryl Eusala supported the plan, which aims to aid the government’s continuing commitment and collective effort in developing the Philippine rubber industry.

Rubber is a highly favored agro-industrial crop in Southeast and South Asia, with significant global production centered in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and India. In the Philippines, most of the manufacturing activity is concentrated in Mindanao, which placed 10th globally for natural rubber production in 2014.### (Ira Y. Cruz, DA-AFID)