Beyond the Hype: Navigating the High-Stakes Legality of the ‘Wood of the Gods’
For many Filipinos, the allure of agarwood is a siren song of "liquid gold" and overnight riches. Social media is saturated with ads promising millions of pesos for a few backyard trees. But for Donnabel Abalos Cabrido, the reality of the "wood of the gods" involved less magic and more bureaucracy. Cabrido, the CEO of Sur Aloeswood Corp. and Soar Aloeswood Agriventures Corporation, entered the industry in 2024, fueled by curiosity. She soon discovered that planting a seedling was the easy part; navigating the labyrinth of Philippine environmental laws was the true test of an investor's resolve. "We asked for the requirements on how to legally plant agarwood," Cabrido said. "We complied with all the legalities, including acquiring necessary permits. We also attended Regional Wildlife Management Committee meetings." Today, Cabrido has transitioned from a curious investor to a vocal advocate for legal propagation. Her company, based in Sitio M...
