Topdac MPC manager Edina Picpican showing their kimchi product (PIA-CAR)
ATOK, Benguet (PIA) — The vision of having a kimchi factory in the province of Benguet is a step closer to realization as the Department of Trade and Industry turned over facilities for kimchi production to the Topdac Multipurpose Cooperative thru a program at Ja’pa, Topdac, Atok on Tuesday (Feb. 7).
The P388,000.00-worth of Shared Service Facility (SSF) project includes washing materials, curing materials, fermentation containers, storage, among others. It is part of the agency’s commitment to the DTI-Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR))-Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST) Village Level Farm-Focused Enterprise Development convergence project on Kimchi Production for the said cooperative.
“As part of our commitment to development in the countryside, we launched the program as an agency idi pay laeng 2013 ket ti objective na daytoy SSF ket i-improve tayo ti quality ken efficiency of production ti micro, small and medium enterprises tayo. Daytoy inaramid tayo tatta ket ebidensiya that whole-of-government approach works,” DTI-CAR Assistant Regional Director and DTI Baguio-Benguet Provincial Director Samuel Gallardo said.
DTI-CAR Regional Director Juliet Lucas reminded the coop members to make use of the processing equipment provided thru a usufruct agreement signed between DTI and the Topdac MPC.
“We are giving to you for now the use of these facilities. It is a usufruct agreement, you are the steward, make good use of it and earn from it and in the end, you will be rewarded as your property nu mayat ti panag-operate na daytoy nga factory, Kimchi Factory of Benguet,” Lucas said.
DOST-Benguet Provincial Director Sheila Marie Claver committed the assistance of the agency particularly in packaging, labeling, and marketing of the products.
In a message of DAR-Benguet Provincial Director Penelope De Ausen read by Elsie Digmayo, she assured their continuing support to the project as she challenged the coop to continue in producing quality products to achieve their goal of being more competitive and enterprising.
In 2022, the DAR-Benguet funded the construction of the processing center while the Topdac MPC shouldered the labor cost and some materials.
The three agencies also capacitated the coop members on kimchi processing, food safety, and consultancy.
Councilor Marilou Zarate who represented Mayor Franklin Smith assured the support of the local government in the said endeavor.
The Topdac MPC thru Board of Directors chairperson Joseph Denio, BOD vice-chairperson George Bay-osan, and Manager Edina Picpican expressed their gratitude for the assistance they have received from the government. They promised to make good use of the facilities and equipment to be more productive.
“Daytoy a building agingga kadagitoy nga equipment ket usaren mi tapnu iti kasta ket agbalin a produktibo, maysa a pagpuunan mi. Sala-salamat, dakkel unay daytoy a blessing,” Denio expressed.
Picpican shared that they started to produce kimchi after experiencing oversupply of ‘wombok’ in 2019. They produced for home consumption until they tried to sell it in their coop.
The cooperative is now producing kimchi for sale at P110 for 500 grams and P55 for 250 grams. With the support of the concerned government agencies, they hope to expand their market. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)
