CALBAYOG CITY - In a gathering of predominantly women participants, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Samar Provincial Office officially turned-over in November 8, 2016 some Php1.012 million pesos worth of Food Processing Equipment for a Shared Service Facilities or SSF. The SSF in turn, was received by the Western Samar Development Foundation or WESADEF, a Non-Government Organization known for its advocacy in helping women and their families rise from poverty thru livelihood and micro financing projects.
According to Ms. Ruthelma Samonte, the head of Business Development Division of DTI-Samar, the SSF is funded under the Processed Food Quality Enhancement Project of former DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo which seeks to assist Small and Medium Enterprises or SMEs to develop, enhance and promote their products, especially those from the rural areas. Domingo during his term observed that small-time food processors, due to lack of equipment and financing, usually process and pack their products in their own kitchen and its utensils hence, do not produce and earn much. The SSF is seen as an answer to the needs of the “neighborhood” food processors.
Meanwhile WESADEF , thru its Women Resource Center will house and co-operate with DTI the said facility containing different food processing equipment such as steamers, heavy duty stove, pressure cooker, deep fryer, rootcrops washer and peeler , digital weighing scale, and many more. Samonte said that the SSF is envisioned to be in itself, a “business operation,” where the SMEs can use the facilities to process their products for a minimal fee. The fees, will, in turn, be used for the water and electricity consumption bills, and for the maintenance of the equipment.
Meanwhile WESADEF , thru its Women Resource Center will house and co-operate with DTI the said facility containing different food processing equipment such as steamers, heavy duty stove, pressure cooker, deep fryer, rootcrops washer and peeler , digital weighing scale, and many more. Samonte said that the SSF is envisioned to be in itself, a “business operation,” where the SMEs can use the facilities to process their products for a minimal fee. The fees, will, in turn, be used for the water and electricity consumption bills, and for the maintenance of the equipment.
Primary beneficiaries of the facility are the women who earlier underwent training on food processing, labelling and marketing with DTI, and received financial assistance thru the Local Poverty Alleviation Program Bottom-up Budgeting (LPRAT-BUB). They are now producing delicious and nutritious chips from different rootcrops like taro, cassava and camote, and sweet-spicy tamarind candies and banana chips.
Two years ago, DTI Samar also turned over several SSF- food processing equipment to the fisherfolks of Brgy. Binaliw in Tinambacan District of this city. Since then, the Samahan ng Mga Mangingisda ng Binaliw became a source of bottled spicy and oil- flavoured sardines that are in-demand, especially during trade fairs. (CJ/ELEEN S. LIM).
Two years ago, DTI Samar also turned over several SSF- food processing equipment to the fisherfolks of Brgy. Binaliw in Tinambacan District of this city. Since then, the Samahan ng Mga Mangingisda ng Binaliw became a source of bottled spicy and oil- flavoured sardines that are in-demand, especially during trade fairs. (CJ/ELEEN S. LIM).
