Sugarcane flower stalks: From waste to gold

LIPA CITY – In Sugarlandia, sugarcane flower stalks are wastes.

But to the government-assisted Morada’s Handicraft here, they are gold.

Fact is, 80 percent of the new materials used by the firm in producing its handicraft export products are made of sugarcane flower stalks and dried leaves, particularly those of "alibangbang".

MH’s father-and-son proprietor and manager Edgardo and Ranel Morada told officials of DOST led by Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro and Undersecretary Florentino O. Tesoro and members of the media who visited MH here recently that its product lines, mostly exported, include picture frames, jewelry boxes, mini drawers, wastebaskets, trays, coasters, and desktop accessors.

MH was one of the firms visited over the past six months by DOST officials and members of the media under the DOST Technology Transfer Roadshow, a year-long (2003), nationwide activity that showcases livelihood projects assisted by DOST through its Small Enteprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP).

Under SET-UP, technical assistance was provided to MH for the acquisition of spray booth and splitting machine developed by the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute.

Previously, DOST had extended several technology interventions to MH, including provision of a dehumidifier to reduce material losses; training on molding; and assistance to acquire jigging (molding) machine.

"The drying technology (using a dehumidifier) has resulted in zero rejects," DOST reported. The moisture content of the products was maintained at 8-12 pecent (a major requirement in export markets). – Rudy A. Fernandez