With thriving sampaguita industry, San Pedro banks on Marcos' agricultural plans

MANILA, Philippines – San Pedro, Laguna has been one of the progressive cities in the country, boasting a blooming sampaguita industry that has been providing basic livelihood for many of its constituents.

The city has achieved considerable success through making indigenous products in its livelihood projects. One of its main industries — sampaguita growing — is complimented by mushroom growing, nutribun, soap making, salted egg and balut manufacturing, among others.

But with sampaguita-making at its core, San Pedro is optimistic that the agricultural plans laid out by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) will be a further boost to the city.

“I observed that President Marcos is oriented toward agriculture development, not to mention, provision of housing, health and educational programs, among others,” said San Pedro native and Rep. Anne Matibag (1st District, Laguna). “Programs focused on raising quality of life of the people are what I continuously push for the people San Pedro.”

Matibag said she pushed for these livelihood projects to generate jobs and business opportunities for San Pedro residents.

But it is San Pedro’s sampaguita-making industry that the Laguna lawmaker is promoting the hardest. In fact, Matibag attended Tuesday’s SONA at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City clad in a white sampaguita-inspired dress by Jazel Sy.

Rep. Anne Matibag.

 

San Pedro has been producing sampaguita-related products since the 80s, including oil that can be used to make soaps, perfume and other cosmetic products, and even herbal medicines.

Reacting to part of the president’s SONA about agricultural production and development, Matibag welcomed Marcos’ statements as a boost to San Pedro’s capability as the country’s “Sampaguita Capital.”

In his speech, Marcos mentioned the need for continued improvement in local agricultural production.

“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 in his SONA.

He noted the 2.2% increase in the agricultural sector in the in first quarter of this year, aiming to continue the government’s quest for food security guided by science.

Matibag, for her part, is counting on the national government to keep pushing for reforms and polices that would benefit the country’s major agricultural industries, including San Pedro’s sampaguita industry.

“I, together with my fellow legislators, 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,” said Matibag, who started out as a Laguna provincial board member known for her “Matibay at Matatag na Alagang LaguNanay” campaign.