GOVPH

The DOST- Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) recently established a wood treatment plant and a furnace type lumber dryer (FTLD) in Tambanan, Naga, Zamboanga, Sibugay. Together with the Rubberwood Processing Plant, these two new facilities complete the Rubberwood Processing Center in the province.

The pressure-method wood treatment plant (left) and the FTLD (right) both have a lumber capacity of 12m³ (5,000 bdft) each.

“We are happy to announce that the Rubberwood Processing Center will soon be operational for use by local furniture makers. It is equipped with facilities to convert senile rubberwood trees into high-value products,” explained Project Leader Engr. Victor G. Revilleza of FPRDI’s Technology Innovation Division.

The establishment of the Center is part of the project “Processing and Utilization of Senile and Unproductive Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) Trees for the Production of High Value Furniture, Mouldings and Joineries”.

In preparation, the DOST-FPRDI conducted a series of training courses for the members of Tambanan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TARBEMCO) — FPRDI’s local partner in the project. These included the following:

• Training on basic finishing held last 24-25 September 2019 that covered surface preparation, sealing, staining and topcoating. Participants will be hired in the Center’s finishing section once it fully operates.

DOST-FPRDI’s Mr. Eduardo A. Atienza and Mr. Benjo S. Salvatierra facilitated training on basic finishing

• Training on rubberwood preservation and treatment held 15-16 January 2020 where participants learned how to proper mix chemicals, load lumber and operate the wood treatment plant.

Loading of rubberwood lumber at the wood treatment plant in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay

• Trainings on kiln drying and furniture making from 11-19 February 2020 which ensured participants know how to operate and maintain the temperature of the FTLD, and use woodworking machines for furniture production, among others. The participants will later on be hired in the Rubberwood Processing Center.

DOST-FPRDI’s Engr. Victor G. Revilleza (in white shirt), Mr. Fernando M. Pesigan (in blue polo) and Mr. Joel Mari (not in photo) served as trainers during the kiln drying and furniture making training.

“In the country, senile rubberwood trees are commonly used for low-value products. We hope that with the establishment of the Rubberwood Processing Center, industry-players willl be able to maximize the use of this resource and turn them into high-value items such as housewares, housing components and composite boards,” ended Revilleza.

The 3-year project costs Php 57 million and is a collaboration among DOST- FPRDI, TARBEMCO, DOST-IX, Philippine Rubber Research Institute, LGU Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay, DTI-IX, and TESDA- IX. ### (Juliemar V. Purificacion and Apple Jean C. Martin- de Leon, 27 March 2020)