TO boost the sarakat (pandan)-based industry in Santa Praxedes in Cagayan, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) has launched the Sarakat Sub-Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP).
The launching of the CADP was in time with the fourth business meeting of the DA Regional Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development 2 in Santa Praxedes on October 11, gathering key stakeholders, including representatives from various partner agencies.
These agencies are the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the National Irrigation Administration, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Cagayan State University, among others.
Photo shows the various products made from sarakat (pandan). PHOTO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Aiming to foster sustainable rural development, among the highlights of the meeting was the presentation on the establishment of the Rural Transformation Center and the Sarakat Weaving Center. Sarakat is a local product of Santa Praxedes under the One Town, One Product initiative of the DTI.
“The Sarakat Weaving Center represents more than just a facility and embodies our aspirations for sustainable development, empowerment and a brighter economic future for all,” Santa Praxedes Mayor Esterlina Ancheta Aguinaldo said.
She said the center will be a hub for innovation, tradition and economic empowerment, particularly benefiting local women weavers.
“This modern facility aims to enhance the quality and volume of production, create job opportunities and promote entrepreneurship, giving our artisans a platform to showcase their craft to a wider market,” Aguinaldo said.
Emphasizing that the Sarakat weaving industry is rooted in the town’s history, she said “the development plan not only symbolizes unity but also taps into our rich local tradition of sarakat weaving as a key driver for economic growth.”
Aguinaldo also disclosed the local government’s allocation of 2.1 hectares of land for housing the Sarakat Production Center, a municipal abattoir, and a plantation for vegetables and fruit trees such as calamansi, rambutan and lanzones.
Aguinaldo also called for continued collaboration to transform Santa Praxedes into a center of sustainable development and economic opportunity.
The meeting was also participated by the local government units of Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Claveria and Santa Praxedes, and the DA-RFO2 focal heads for programs like corn, high-value crops, livestock, organic farming and rice underscored the collaborative spirit of the gathering.
Kay Olivas, DA-RFO2 regional technical director for research and regulations and focal person for the regional convergence initiative, also underscored the collaborative efforts that have been made toward advancing local programs.
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