Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 1434

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THE PHILIPPINES

the ravages of droughts, which are of periodical occurrence, and at the same time make feasible the growing of two or three crops a year in the rice sections of the archipelago. The extension of cultivated areas is also receiving due attention from the Government and the local farmers.

Manila hemp, which the Philippines supplies to the world as first-class cordage material, is produced from the leaf stalks of the Abaca plant thriving extensively in the Country only. The fibre is also used for making binder twine, and from the old disintegrated Manila ropes is made the well-known and much-used Manila paper. In the Philippines, Abaca fibre is extensively used in the manufacture of cloth. In the making of baskets, slippers, mats and other articles, the fibre has been tried with excellent results. Within the last few years a very important use for the fibre has been found in the manu- facture of hats.

Coconut palms are grown extensively and copra and vegetable oil constitute a considerable source of wealth. Tobacco is grown successfully in the fertile valleys especially of Cagayan river, and is exported to the United States and Spain in the form of Cigars and leaf tobacco. The best and choicest class is raised in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela in northern Luzon.

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Sugar-cane thrives very well, principally in the island of Negros. The most noteworthy feature of sugar-cane growing and sugar manufacturing is the increase in the number of sugar centrals during recent years. The exten- sion of the cultivated area and the introduction of tractors and other farm machinery of good varieties, use of fertilizers and proper culture have largely brought about the increase in production.

Among the other crops with great agricultural possibilities are maguey, sisal, corn, coffee, rubber, kapok, cacao, cassava, peanut, vegetables and fruits. Cattle-raising as an agricultural pursuit is also very promising.

Gold continues to be the barometer of mining activities in the Philippines. Its production has been increasing annually until in 1938 the total output has reached P64,548,850.00. This production has placed the Philippines as the fourth greatest gold producing area under the United States flag. In quartz mining, the Benguet and Masbate districts have been consistent producers for a number of years. At present the Benguet district produces about 95% of the total output of gold. The three great producing mines in order of their im- portance are the Benguet Consolidated, the Balatoc, and the Itogon mines, all of which are located in Benguet, but about eight others are now in regular production.

Silver mining is done in the Philippines, and the production in 1937 was P1,094,435. Small quantity of platinum is also recovered in connection with placer operations.

The native furnaces of Bulacan continue to be the only source of iron production. Development of the chromite deposits in Camarines Sur and Zambales are now being pushed to the point of production. Other metallic deposits worthy of consideration are the copper of Mankayan and Suyoc; chromite of Zambales and Pangasinan; iron of Surigao and Calambayanga Island; manganese of Ilocos Norte and Masbate; and lead and zinc of Masbate and Marinduque.

Coal is being produced from Cebu, Mindanao and Batan. Two cement plants, one in Cebu and another in Binangonan, Riza, manufacture Portland cement for export and for domestic consumption. Lime factories in Rizal, Tayabas and Iloilo produce quick and slack lime for use in sugar refineries. Exploratory drilling for petroleum is being carried out in the Bondoc penin- sula and other places. Small quantity of bituminous rock of Leyte is now being mined for road construction. Guano and phosphatic rock are also being produced from the deposits of Capiz, Pangasinan, Tayabas and other provinces.