LEGAZPI CITY: The local government of Bacacay aims to increase the production of karagumoy or pandamus simplex to sustain the necessary raw materials and provide more livelihood opportunities to the residents. Bacacay Mayor Edsel Belleza in an interview on Friday said 10 out of the 56 villages in the locality are involved in the production of karagumoy, a species of the pandan tree which is used to make banig (mats), baskets, and other home decors. "We have programs and projects that involve planting and growing karagumoy in our town. We will revive the production of karagumoy. The more plants we have, the more people will benefit in terms of livelihood," he said in the vernacular. As a strategy, the local government has collaborated with the Department of Trade and Industry for skills training in the processing from raw materials up to the finished products. "With the help of DTI, the production will be larger and will meet the necessary international standards," he said. Belleza said at least 1,000 mat s and baskets can be produced upon order. "For 2025, we will allocate a budget for karagumoy, and our municipal agriculture office will ensure updated data on farmers engaged in karagumoy," he added. Source: Philippines News Agency