SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The villages under the Northwest Panay Peninsula converged in a workshop for Northwest Panay Weaving Heritage.
The two-day event was recently held at the UP Visayas Extension Campus in Pandan, Antique as part of the “Pagrara: Exploring Northwestern Panay Weaving Heritage” initiative.
It was funded by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) as part of the Panay Weaving and Culinary Heritage Program of the UP Visayas Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS).
Weavers and officers of local weaving cooperatives actively participated in the workshop with local tourism officers, and representatives from key local government units in Aklan and Antique, particularly from the municipalities of Ibajay, Nabas in Aklan and Pandan, and Libertad in Antique.
The areas form part of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park where raw materials for handicrafts made from bariw, nito, and abaca are sourced.
Also tackled during the workshop was the assessment of the economic viability and sustainability of the Northwest Panay weaving industry, its significance, and the capacity-building needs of the communities.
The discussions also opened opportunities for future collaborations among local governments, national agencies, and academic institutions, all aimed at strengthening support for the weaving heritage.
Representatives from the Provincial Government of Aklan and the Department of Trade and Industry also provided significant inputs during the workshop.
Leading the event was CWVS Director Asst. Prof. Frances Anthea R. Redison, along with senior writers Sashah Dioso, Kyle Philip Ravena, and Precious Maecah Ratay, who facilitated the productive discussions with technical support from Febrey Esclares, Ericka Paula Galvan, and Joefritz Varon. (AGP/PSM/UPV-CWVS/PIA Antique)
