Creating a more comprehensive and strategic development plans that shall serve as guide for the 13 identified convergence areas in the region in implementing their convergence programs and projects, the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos hosted the Convergence Area Development Planning Writeshop held in the City of San Fernando, La Union on August 6-8,2024.

The CADP writeshop is among the pre-requisite activities to be undertaken before the conduct of the launching of the proposed convergence sites.

Facilitated by the National Convergence Initiative Technical Working Group (NCI-TWG) in collaboration with the Regional Convergence Initiative – TWG, the writeshop was participated in by the various stakeholders, municipal and provincial planners and development experts of the local government units in the identified convergence sites including the major and expanded agency members to identify strategies that will address the development and rehabilitation of the proposed convergence area including the needed livelihood interventions that can be provided to the locality.

In his message during the event, newly appointed DA-RFO I OIC-Regional Executive Director, Dr. John Pascual reiterated the importance of convergence not only for the available resources from government agencies but by the implementers, the LGUs, the private sector and all other stakeholders to achieve the ‘ridge to reef’ development agenda for the convergence sites in the region.

RED Pascual likewise enjoined the group to make the most of the opportunity provided through the workshop to jointly craft a comprehensive CADP that will serve as a guide for implementers to determine the necessary interventions that will address the effective management of the watershed and ecosystem in the identified convergence areas.

Identifying each of the LGU-proponents existing resources, socio-economic conditions, income levels and other relevant information, the writeshop also provided an opportunity for the attendees to discuss other relevant issues through their SWOT analysis which is crucial for the successful implementation of the convergence strategy##.