BANGUED, Abra (PIA) — Banana-based products can now be a source of additional income for at least 25 participants of the DOST-led training on Banana-based Product Processing held in Calaba, Bangued.
Frances Mae Pinongpong, a student of the La Paz Integrated School, expressed her gratitude for the holding of training activity and shared her plans with the skills she learned in making banana cakes, muffins and chips.
“Daytoy nga naadal ko ket mabalin ko nga maiaramidan ti sarili nga business tapno makatulongak uray bassit kenni nanang ko a kas single parent tapno maitawid dakami ti rigat [I will use what I learned to start my own business so that I can help my mother, who is a single parent],” she said.
Frances Mae Pinongpong and Prince Cortez, both students from the La Paz Integrated School, present their output during the DOST-led Banana-based Products Processing held in Calaba, Bangued recently. (Photo by: PIA-Abra)
Prince Cortez, another student participant from the La Paz Intergrated School, also gained new techniques that can help him and his family.
“Daytoy na-training ko ket makatulong daytoy upcoming nga contest nga simmaliak ken daytoy nga naadal ko ket mausar konto nga agbusiness ta matulungak ti pagbiag ti family [The learnings I gained from this training will help me with the upcoming competition I joined and the learnings I got from this training can help me start a business to help my family],” he shared.
Aside from students, participants also included members of the Skylight SLPA Organization from Bangued and the Batayan Rural Improvement Club (RIC) from Tubo.
Emma Batallones of the Batayan Rural Improvement Club in Tubo takes a slice of one of their outputs during the training on Banana-based Products Processing led by the DOST-Abra. (Photo by: PIA-Abra)
Emma Batallones of the Batayan RIC shared that she tried processing banana products before but learned new tips during the training.
“Dakkel nga panagyamin mi ti anosyo nga taga-DOST kenni speaker tayo ta ininvite dakami, inikan dakami ti gundaway tapno kasta umay kami maki-attend ti training on banana-based products processing [We are very thankful to the DOST and our trainer for giving us the chance to attend this banana-based products prcessing],” she said.
DOST Abra officer -in-charge Aileen Malangen said that the training is under the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) that aims to provide livelihood and alleviate poverty in communities.
“Daytoy ket part ti CEST for Tubo, Abra. Adu ti naka-line up nga activity daytoy karamanan ti banana-based products processing ket napanunot ti DOST-Abra nga since adu met dagiti associations nga agen-engage ti breads and pastries, iso inayaban mi isuda [This is part of the CEST for Tubo, Abra. There are lined-up activities under this program and one of which is the banana-based products processing training and since there are many associations engaged in breads and pastries, the DOST-Abra decided to invite them also],” she explained.
Other activities on deck under the DOST-Abra’s CEST program include assistance to sugarcane farmers, coffee farmers, blacksmith project, and solar powered pump for high value crops production.
Malangen shared that although Tubo was identified for the CEST project as part of the Whole of Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict initiative of the DOST, other beneficiaries were also invited to maximize the free trainings from the government.(JJPM-PIA Abra)
