INSPIRED by the President’s first-year achievements, the City of San Pedro of Laguna has been one of the progressive cities in the Philippines focusing on providing basic livelihood projects like the sampaguita industry since last year to uplift the lives of its people.
San Pedro has achieved considerable success in using indigenous products for its livelihood projects. These include sampaguita growing as its main industry, mushroom growers, nutribun making, soap making, and itik growing, salted egg and balut industry, among others.
Rep. Ann Matibag of Laguna’s first district City of San Pedro started these ongoing projects last year to give her people more jobs and business opportunities aside from their medical missions, infrastructure projects, financial and medical assistances and scholarship programs.
“I observed that President Marcos is oriented towards agriculture development, not to mention provision of housing, health and educational programs, among others,” Matibag said. “Programs focused on raising quality of life of the people are what I continuously push for the people San Pedro.”
Matibag — clad in a beautiful sampaguita-inspired white dress by Jazel Sy last Monday at the Batasan Pambansa Complex — promoted the City of San Pedro’s very own sampaguita industry during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The City of San Pedro in Laguna has been producing sampaguita plants and flowers since the 1980s, the oil of which is used to make soaps, perfumes, cosmetics and deodorants, among others, like herbal medicines.
Commenting on President Marcos’ SONA about agricultural production and development, Matibag said the direction of the Marcos administration in the sector would definitely give life to San Pedro again as the country’s sampaguita capital.
“Our aim is to boost our local agricultural production — through consolidation, modernization, mechanization and improvement of value chains — augmented by timely calibrated importation, as needed,” Marcos said during SONA.
He added that agriculture has increased 2.2 percent in first three months of this year, noting that the quest for food security guided by science and balance of nature will result in productive, sustainable and responsible harvests for both present and future generations.
“As I strive to bring developments to my district through my medical missions, infrastructure projects, financial and medical assistances, livelihood and scholarship programs among others, I’m hopeful that I, too, would achieve the success of President Marcos,” Congresswoman Matibag said after hearing the President’s speech.
Since she was an elected provincial board member of Laguna, Matibag, known for her “MATIBAY at MATATAG na Alagang LaguNanay,” is always promoting and supporting the small scale sampaguita industry.
“Hearing the priority programs of President Marcos, I, together with my fellow legislators at the House of Representatives will continue to join hands in support of our President’s directive and work even harder to achieve the bright future that the whole country deserves,” she added.
The City of San Pedro, following the President’s directives, is supportive of every sector of society, from senior citizens, youth, mothers, fathers, and sampaguita vendors, among others.