The exact origin of rubber is still unknown. The ancient Mayan people learned to use latex to form rubber balls for their ritual game. As recorded in Popul Buh, a Mayan Religious document, the game was called Tlachtlic, a combination of football and basketball schemes that give religious significance to their ritual.

It was the creation of eraser that was considered first use of rubber. It was suggested by Magellan, a Portuguese navigator. Later it was popularized in England. It became known as “India rubber” or “Borracha” in Portuguese language. After all, leather borrachas were replaced by rubber borrachas to ship wine.

In 1735, the first scientific study of rubber became popular by the use of flexible tubes. After many years, many craftsmen became involved with rubber. The rubber threads and clothing accessories were then produced and snow boots and waterproof fabric became very successful in 1820’s.

One of the most indispensible products in the modern society is rubber.  It consists of two types – natural rubber and the man-made rubber or synthetic rubber.  Natural rubber is the raw material while man-made rubber is the processed one. Today, thousands of local farmers are able to stabilize their rubber plantations.

Rubber plays a very important role in our lives. Imagine when you travel without a car, a plane, or a ship.  Rubber is everywhere. It is used to manufacture car tires, plane tires, the soles and heels of our shoes, our slippers, and the rubber balls that children plays with. We have almost 50,000 products that are made from this material.  That is just how much we depend on rubber.

Rubber production turned to a wide industry in the province of Cotabato. To date, Cotabato has a total potential area of 105,420 hectares for rubber plantations. Summing the total areas planted with rubber trees are 32,066.79 hectares.  With this figure, 19,201.44 hectares are tappable and 12,865.25 hectares are non-tappable. Makilala ranked first with 6,988.47 hectares planted with rubber trees in terms of area. From the data gathered by the Provincial Agriculturist Office, they have identified the Rubber productivity with an average yield of 300kg/mo/has as of February 28,2011.

With this huge production of dry rubber, approximately 70% goes to automobile industry.

Under the governance of Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, the Province of Cotabato continues to run the rubber development program. The government have allocated funds for our farmers to produce high quality rubber seedlings. The program aims to help local farmers to engage in rubber production through “plant-now-pay later” scheme.

MARKETING

Cotabato Province ranked second from Sibugay in terms of latex production. Rubber was first introduced in the province in the year 1960’s when Firestone Rubber Processing Plant started their business in the Municipality of Makilala.

Cotabato Province has seven (6) major rubber processing companies that are all located in the Municipality of Makilala. Here is where all the local farmers sell their natural rubber straight from their farms.

STANDECO (STANDARD RUBBER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION)
The company was established in the year 1978 as one of the largest producer and export leaders in natural rubber in the Philippines. They have maintained their reputation to their local and foreign clients by constantly delivering the best quality yet affordable products. STANDECO has 2 processing plants to accommodate the requirements of their growing customers.

PRDI (PLATINUM RUBBER DEVELOPMWENT INCORPORATED)
Recently, the Municipality of Makilala in cooperation with STANDECO and PRDI held the launching of the program for Advanced Rubber Technology at the PRDI Rubber Nursery in New Cebu, Makilala.

PIONEER
Pioneer Rubber Plant is located at Bagong Silang, Makilala, Cotabato.

DAVCO
The company runs a rubber plantation and a processing plant itself which led the owner to invest in another processing plant in Misimay, East Kalimantan, Indonesia that started its operation middle of July 2006. DAVCO is located at Old Bulatukan, Makilala.

MRDI (MINDANAO RUBBER DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED) OWNED BY CORNELIO MASIL
MRDI is located at Malasila, Makilala, Cotabato. This company exports SPR20 Internationally with major clients in Singapore.

FARMA RUBBER INDUSTRIES INC.
The industry was established in the year 1987 with 70-100 employees. The company is growing as a manufacturer and a trading company of motorcycle tires, rubber soles, slippers, and rubber balls. They managed to maintain 70%-80% of their products in exporting with in Southeast Asia with the help of their Quality Assurance Personnel. FARMA has an area of approximately 3,000 square meters and the factory is located at San Vicente, Makilala.

Rubber became one of the major crops adapted by Cotabato farmers. Farmers are able to harvest natural rubber with a minimum average of 300 kilograms/hectare/month. These natural rubbers are now being sold to different processing plants to produce dry rubber. As of February 28, 2011, natural rubber reached its highest value which is P90 per kilo.