Last November,
the RP's Department of Science and Technology sent out a news release
in which Congressman Perpetuo Ylagan announced that coconut, not marble,
is now Romblon's top export product. While that may be technically
true, image is everything.
There is no denying
that copra and other coconut products have yet to be tapped to full
potential. Coconut products could provide an important economic boost
through local use and as a source of export income, such as through
the Cocomethyl Ester (CME) project.
Yet despite coconut
power-literally and figuratively-Romblon and marble will always be
synonymous. Marble isn't just abundant in Romblon; as Ma. Christina
Perez points out on the Rombloanon website (http://litera1no4.tripod.com/rombloanon_frame.html),
marble is literally the foundation of Romblon island. The marble quarried
and processed in the province is world-class, and export marble products
generated 7.586 million pesos in 1999, with Europe, Britain, Australia,
and North America all representing significant markets.
Unfortunately,
an inexhaustible supply, exceptional quality, and more than two dozen
attractive varieties don't automatically translate into an economic
boom. As was reported in last August's edition of this newsletter,
Gov. Madrona pointed to the challenge of a significant decline in
export volume in recent years: from 8,000 sacks per month in the industry's
peak years down to just 500 sacks last year. Yet with the help of
marketing savvy and strong business acumen, lucrative markets await
Romblon's mineral resources and craftsmanship.
Quality products
around the globe
For a century, Romblon's marble has been put to use in products that
range from exquisite desk sets to towering structural pillars. Homebuilders
often boast of their use of Romblon marble in floor tiles and wall
panels. "Marble has been used in making monumental and lapidary
name tablets, garden sets, table tops, chess tables, and stools,"
writes Perez. "It can also be made into decorative items such
as ashtrays, chess pieces, powder bowls, animal figurines, statuettes,
miniature mortars and pestles, globes, pen holders, jars, and flower
vases."
Perez notes that
these smaller items are crafted by more than 100 small enterprises,
most of them family-owned businesses. "Finished products find
their way into the local novelty stores where they are sold to tourists
or Manila distributors," Perez said.
A 2002 report
from the RP Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (http://www.dti.gov.ph/contentment/9/17/108/300.jsp)
identified products that will be key components in the marble industry's
future. These include:
· Marble slabs and tiles, measuring from 100mm x 100mm to 600mm
x 600mm, usually used for floor and wall finishing
· Memorials and tombstones
· Slabs used for billiard tables
· Table and countertops
The study identified
Cebu, Metro Manila, and all sections of Luzon as the most lucrative
domestic markets for Romblon's marble products. In addition to the
aforementioned export markets, Japan will be an important target.
Showcasing
exceptional craftsmanship
With that market in mind, several of the province's leading marble
companies pooled their expertise to present a unified "Romblon
Marble Philippines" exhibit at last year's Stone Expo Japan 2002
and Architecture and Construction Materials Exhibition, both held
at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center. Participating organizations
in the Romblon display included Pandan Mining Corporation, San Juan
Marble Cooperative, and the Romblon Marble Development Cooperative,
under the leadership of Edgar Tamayo, Pandan Mining's senior geologist.
The DTI lauded
this unified effort. By taking their place among 24 exhibitors at
the Stone Expo and 179 exhibitors at the Architecture and Construction
Materials show, Romblon's marble producers were able to give an influential
audience from around the world a first-hand look at why the exceptional
craftsmanship of Romblon-produced tables, tiles, and quality novelty
items have earned international preeminence.
The DTI also feels
that the marble industry opens up additional trade and investment
opportunities for the province. Specifically, they identified:
· Geological
surveying
· Waste treatment facility
· Technology for utilization of by-products
So while nothing
can be taken for granted in today's economy, there are many reasons
to be optimistic about the future of Romblon's trademark product and
the opportunities it presents for entrepreneurs. For additional details
about such ventures, contact Oscar Agbay, DTI's Provincial Director,
3/F J.M. Diaz Bldg., Quezon St., 5500 Romblon, Romblon; Tel: (02)
412-28-64 to 67, loc. 2133.
