DTI opens food processing facility in Barbaza

DTI OIC-Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon and Antique Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Errol Santillan, representing Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Sangguniang Bayan Member Roberto Grajo, Department of Science and Technology Provincial Director Engr. Abraham Fabila, Marigold G. Gelito of the Department of Agrarian reform and members of the Esparar Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The facility already produces squash noodles, squash powder, turmeric powder, malunggay powder, squash granules, and squash polvoron, among others.

DTI VI OIC-Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon led the blessing and inauguration of the Shared Service Facility for Food Processing in Brgy. Esparar in Barbaza, Antique on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.

Rascon underscored that the equipment DTI VI provided to the cooperator, Esparar Multi-Purpose Cooperative, is expected to improve their productivity and the market competitiveness of their product.

The cooperative has been into squash noodles production and marketing these through trade fairs.

DTI VI provided the Cooperative with dehydrator, steamer, mixer, and grinder among others while the building which serves as their production and processing center was established through the collective effort of the municipal and provincial government.

Rascon urged the beneficiaries to make the most to develop their products, increase the volume of their production that would eventually increase their income, with the establishment of the facility in their community.

Further, Rascon also urged the beneficiaries and the municipal officials to coordinate and partner with other towns on squash growing in order to sustain their productivity with the availability of raw materials, especially on bulk orders later on.