Inspired by the first-year achievements of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., San Pedro City in 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, Laguna Rep. Ann Matibag said.
In a statement, Matibag said 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 duck growing, salted egg and balut industry, among others.
Matibag started these projects last year to give her people “more jobs and business opportunities aside from their medical missions, infrastructure projects, financial and medical assistance, and scholarship programs.”
“I observed that President Marcos is oriented towards agriculture development, not to mention the provision of housing, health, and educational programs, among others,” Matibag said. “Programs focused on raising the quality of life of the people are what I continuously push for the people of San Pedro.”
Matibag promoted San Pedro’s indigenous sampaguita industry during Monday’s State of the Nation Address by the President.
San Pedro has been engaged in sampaguita propagation since the 1980s, the essence 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 by 2.2 percent in the first three months of this year, noting that the quest for food security guided by science and the 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 assistance, livelihood and scholarship programs among others, I’m hopeful that I, too, would achieve the success of President Marcos,” Matibag said following the President’s SONA.
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.