Manila, Oct. 7 -- The abaca industry in Negros Oriental is dwindling, prompting authorities to implement innovations and interventions to fortify the sector, an official said Tuesday.

Nena Locsin, provincial chief of the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), told the Philippine News Agency that abaca production has sharply declined over the past five years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In 2020, we noticed that abaca production became less than in previous years, due to pandemic restrictions, as well as land conversion, job migration, livelihood opportunities and disease attacking the plants," Locsin said.

She noted that farmers and the younger generations transitioned to jobs that provided instant income, abandoning with abaca p...