The National Convergence Initiative (NCI) had recently launched the proposed Agricultural Abundance and Productivity thru Innovative Technologies (AGAPIT) in the Second District of Cagayan.

“AGAPIT, an Iloco term that means to harvest, will be composed of five municipalities, namely, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Claveria and Sta. Praxedes,” said Director Silvino Q. Tejada, National Focal Person of NCI.

“A brainchild of Representative Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso and in coordination with NCI, the plan shall complement the existing resources of the involved municipalities in coming out of unified and stronger efforts towards productivity in the said area.”

The NCI convened the municipalities to come up with a Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP) at FL Vargas College, Calog Sur, Abulug, Cagayan.

“It is important that you will identify interventions and activities that will promote sustainable management of all resources within the convergence area,” Tejada equipped.

“Sa madaling sabi po, pag-aralan natin kung ano ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng ating munisipalidad para mapag-isipan natin kung ano ang magandang solusyon para mapabuti pa ang ating kalagayan.”

For his part, Regional Technical Director Robert B. Olinares said that the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02) shall support the initiatives to be proposed.

“We are one with you because we do believe that today’s event is contributory in developing awareness and advocacy towards a long-term and sustainable agriculture sector as we share and exchange knowledge, ideas and sentiments in general.”

He emphasized that all are attuned with the department’s thrust of addressing the fragmented delivery of services to the countryside.

“Today, we are forging strong partnerships with other institutions to build an efficient servicing to our stakeholders. We hope that said plan shall materialize soon.”

To show their support, various officials of Cagayan Province had also attended the workshop.

Among them were Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr., representing Representative Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso, Second District Board Members Vilmer Viloria, Jeff Vargas and Archie Layus, Mayor Jesus Emmanuel Vargas of Abulug and representatives of the five municipalities and Cagayan State University (CSU)-Sanchez Mira Campus.

Technical staffs from the regional and national offices of DA, DAR, DENR, DILG and NCI served as facilitators.

Meanwhile, the Office of Representative Vargas hosted the four-day activity which includes an educational trip in a successful coffee production project, an NCI endeavour in Paddig, Ilocos Norte.