CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has provided food processing equipment to a women’s organization in Dingalan, Aurora.
Maria Ana A. Espiritu, science research specialist II of the DOST-Provincial Science and Technology Office-Aurora, said on Wednesday that the Samahang-Ugnayan ng mga Kababaihan Mag-iisda ng Paltik (SUKMIP) received on Tuesday the new equipment replacing the old ones damaged by Typhoon Karding on Sept. 24, 2022.
Funded under the DOST Grant-In-Aid (GIA) program, Espiritu said the new equipment includes a cubing machine, blast freezer, upright freezer, chest-type freezer and heavy-duty burner.
“Malaking tulong ang assistance na ito ng DOST sa samahan. Makakapag-comply na kami sa requirement ng mga target market namin. Maraming salamat sa DOST-3 (This is a great help from DOST for the association. Now, we can comply with the requirements of our potential market. Thank you very much DOST-3),” Zenia Q. Abaya, the project manager of SUKMIP, said in a statement.
SUKMIP is a women’s organization that provides alternative livelihood to its members who are wives of fishermen residing in the coastal barangay of Paltic in Dingalan.
The association produces tuna-based products like bottled tuna in oil, tuna-pa (smoked tuna slices), fish longganisa, fish lumpia, and vacuum-packed choice cuts of tuna.
They sell their products locally and join trade fairs to reach a wider market.
However, the storm surge caused by Typhoon Karding damaged most of their processing equipment, prompting the local government unit of Dingalan to request for DOST’s assistance.
To maximize the use of the equipment, Espiritu said the group members were trained on proper operation and preventive maintenance (PNA)
