MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL (PIA)--The Department of Science and Technology in Misamis Occidental organized a skills training on calamansi juice concentrate processing for 15 women members of the Paglaum Livelihood Association, May 30, at the Paglaum Learning Site in Plaridel.

The activity included hands-on training in producing calamansi juice concentrate and orientation on basic food safety and good manufacturing practices (GMP). DOST also provided the association with kitchen materials and supplies to kickstart the association’s venture in calamansi processing.

Joanne Katherine Banaag, the Provincial Science and Technology Director of DOST Camiguin, served as the resource person for the hands-on training, while Rogelyn Calago of DOST Misamis Occidental guided the participants in basic food safety and GMP. 

At the end of the training, the participants were able to produce and package 34 bottles of calamansi juice concentrate. They also experimented with the ideal concentration for ready-to-drink calamansi juice, which they aim to market through their catering services.

The participants expressed their eagerness to continue and sustain the production as another source of livelihood for the association. When continued and sustained, this skill may help augment the members’ income and contribute to the circular economy of the municipality.

"Kinahanglan i-apply ang nakat-onan sa atong kaugalingon ug himuon nga negosyo para makatabang sa atong pamilya (We need to apply our learnings to reality and make use of the skill for business to help our families)," said one participant.

The training is DOST's response to the association's request for training to help them improve their catering services, which Mayor Gadwin E. Handumon of Plaridel has endorsed. It is also a DOST-10 Gender and Development Strategy that aims to provide livelihood skills to women members of the association. (DOST-10/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)