Providing rural housewives an additional livelihood opportunity and income generating project, the Department of Agriculture-Ilocos Region conducted a 3-day training on cassava processing and utilization in Brgy. Poblacion, Aguilar, Pangasinan.
An activity started today, Sept. 7, 2022 with 35 rural housewives as participants, the training is facilitated by the Corn Banner Program in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Pangasinan and the municipality of Aguilar through the office of the Municipal Agriculturist.
In the Opening Program attended by Ms. Marivic Ballesteros who represented Aguilar Mayor Kristal S. Ballesteros-Soriano, expressed gratitude to the DA for choosing the town as the beneficiary of the project.
Recognizing the timeliness of the conduct of the activity, Mayor Soriano through Ms. Ballesteros noted in her message the relevance of learning new knowledge and skills especially in cassava processing which could lead the participants to become agribusiness entrepreneurs and contribute to job generation in the municipality.
“Napapanahon na magkaroon ng bagong kaalaman na posibleng pagkakakitaan lalo na ng mga kababaihan. Hangad nating lahat ang tagumpay ninyo sa pagpapalawak ng mga bagong kaalaman na tiyak makakatulong sa pagpapaunlad ng inyong kabuhayan.”, Ms. Ballesteros said.
In his briefing and message during the opening program, Mr. John Leo Bungubung, ESETS Focal Person under the Corn Banner Program ensured that participants will not only benefit from the knowledge and skills that they shall gain in the training but shall give them potential sustainable business enterprise if they put into practice the learnings from the training.
Ms. Lumen Bugaoan, Agricultist II and IDS Focal Person served as the trainor in making cassava delicacies like cassava bibingka, kutsinta, pitchi-pitchi, cookies, pulvorun, etc.
Aside from the hands-on experience in cassava processing, lecture on values orientation, packaging and labelling, financial literacy, simplified bookeeping, and other needed knowledge to start a business form part of the training.
As additional intervention, DA will likewise provide a starter kit which include, cassava pulverizer, grater, presser, gas range, kitchen and baking utencils, all necessary to start-up business enterprise for the women-entrepreneurs.#
