BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera RDC Executive Committee approved the Cordillera Weaving Industry Development Plan (CWIDP) 2020-2028 as a regional policy document during its meeting on January 29. Regional Research, Development, & Innovation Committee (RRDIC) Chair and DOST-CAR Director Nancy Bantog presented the plan to the committee.
According to her, the CWIDP 2020-2028 was formulated by the weaving industry stakeholders towards a creative, vibrant, weaving industry in the region. The stakeholders include indigenous weavers, weaving entrepreneurs, regional line agencies, Cordillera fashion designers, and also the RDC Committees on Economic Development and Indigenous Peoples Concerns led by DTI-CAR Dir. Myrna Pablo and NCIP-CAR OIC Dir. Marlo Bosantog, respectively. It shall pursue better capacitation of weavers in production technology innovation and market linkages, promote environmental quality and sustainable use of its resources, increase resiliency of individuals and communities, and preserve the unique culture and heritage.
Director Bantog said that the plan focuses on the weaving industry, which is common to the Cordillera provinces and is consistent with Baguio City as a UNESCO creative city for its folk arts and crafts. She also added that weaving industry directly supports the agriculture with the Plan’s push for the use of natural and indigenous fibers and other locally available weaving materials.
RDC-CAR Vice-Chair and NEDA-CAR Director Milagros Rimando on the other hand noted that the critical importance of the CWIDP to CAR’s development. Director Rimando, through the resolution, enjoined all Local Government Units, State Universities and Colleges, as well as Civil Society Organizations to support its implementation.
Relatedly, the RRDIC was recently directed by the RDC to expand its institutional membership to better address emerging development concerns of the region through research, development and innovation by updating CAR’s Regional R&D Agenda. This is in response to a resolution passed earlier by the Northern Luzon Regional Development Committee (composed of Northern Luzon RDCs) to improve the country’s production of high-value crops based on research by NEDA Regional Office CAR. By NEDA-CAR
