Magpale Reiterates Commitment to Women’s Welfare

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who was reelected in the May 9 elections, has reiterated her commitment to advance women’s welfare in the province.

“We pledge our support to an industry that will benefit the women of Argao,” Magpale said in her message during the recent turnover ceremony of the Shared Service Facility on handloom weaving machines to Cebu Technological University-Argao campus in southern Cebu.

“Women empowerment, women protection and women development are my advocacies since I became a politician. I saw the chance to serve the women of Argao through this program,” she said.

At least 20 handloom weaving machines worth Php825,000 were given out by the Department of Trade and Industry as part of President Benigno S. Aquino’s livelihood program to bring inclusive growth to the marginalized sectors.

Magpale said that sometime in 2014, a group from Argao led by Vice Mayor Stanley Caminero, now the town’s presumptive mayor, visited her office with the proposal to revive the town’s weaving industry.

“After that lone meeting, everything just fell into place. The Department of Trade and Industry came into the picture as well as the Department of Labor, and now we have this program,” she said.

Argao is known for its flourishing weaving industry in the early 1900s.

Barangays such as Cancainap, Tulic, Lamacan and Canbanuan were among the places known to produce hand-woven fabric named “hablon.”

But the number of fabric weaving practitioners have reduced as the years went by.

Alarmed by the possible demise of Argao’s cultural heritage, concerned residents and some town officials joined hands to keep the weaving industry alive.

At the forefront is the CTU-Argao campus, which provides technical knowledge and supervisory skill to help preserve, enhance and promote its weaving industry. It also housed the new 20 handloom weaving machines.

DTI 7 regional director Asteria Caberte said he sees the weaving industry in Argao as a profitable enterprise that will help uplift the lives of the poor.

Caberte said the growing interest in fashion clothing using “hablon” materials is expected to increase the demand of handwoven fabrics. (PNA) SCS/EB/PR/EDS