Abaca industry resilience strengthened through workshop

By Rowena Cruz Participants engage in discussions during the Abaca Industry Resilience workshop in Quezon Province. (Quezon PIO) LUCENA ...

By Rowena Cruz

Participants engage in discussions during the Abaca Industry Resilience workshop in Quezon Province. (Quezon PIO)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - More than a year after devastating typhoons, the destruction of subsequent storms has presented significant challenges. However, Quezon is gradually regaining its footing. The province has been actively working on rehabilitation, focusing on restoring affected sectors and providing support to its residents.

To bolster this recovery and empower communities to restart their livelihoods and rebuild their lives, a crucial three-day workshop has been launched. The workshop, themed "Ensuring the Sustainability of the Abaca Industry in Quezon Province: Business Continuity and Resilience Planning," successfully commenced on Wednesday, March 12, at the Queen Margarette Hotel-Domoit in Lucena City.



The workshop, spearheaded by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) under the leadership of Dr. Melchor P. Avenilla, Jr., in partnership with the Strengthening Institution and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) program, drew participants from key sectors. Attendees included representatives from the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA), Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), and various cooperatives and farmers' associations across Quezon Province.

The training program's primary objective is to enhance the resilience of Quezon Province, ensuring the sustained stability and growth of not only the abaca and cacao industries but also other livelihoods, in the face of challenges such as natural disasters, climate change, and economic uncertainties.

This initiative is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Provincial Government with Australian Aid, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN-Habitat, the Philippine Business and Social Progress (PBSP), and the National Resilience Council. This demonstrates a strong commitment to multi-stakeholder partnerships for regional development.

The Provincial Government has pledged its unwavering support for initiatives focused on the safety, preparedness, and resilience of Quezon Province in the face of potential disasters, ensuring continuous improvement in disaster response capabilities.