TARLAC CITY (PIA) -- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided a business seminar and skills training on Calabash Processing for potential micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in Ramos, Tarlac.
 
The attendees, which include residents with calabash trees, were trained how to maximize calabash and produce calabash jam, juice, wine and brew. 

DTI OIC-Provincial Director Zaida Garibay explained that the activity aims to open an opportunity for the participants to gain business skills, and to venture in entrepreneurship. 

“Calabash is still unknown to many but its familiarity is starting to rise these days due to its health benefits, making it a potential source of livelihood. This is an opportunity for the participants to turn their acquired skill into profit especially since calabash trees are abundant in the community,” she said. 

For his part, Mayor Celso Banag welcomed and supported the positive outcome of the skills training to the local economy of the town in the future. 

“I thank DTI and the speakers who gave us this formal training so that we can process these products in our town since we have a lot of calabash trees. I hope that the participants will utilize it as their source of income. I am in support of the activities that would contribute to the development of our municipality,” Banag stated. 

Prior to this, DTI assisted beneficiaries of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office on bread making. 

Topics discussed include the process of making cheese bread, doughnuts, kababayan, breakfast rolls, pandesal and hopia. (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)