DTI turns over P1.5-M food processing facility to NONESCOST

WITH the P1.5 million worth of food processing and packaging support facility recently turned over to Sagay City, Negros Occidental, the city government is confident that it will help in value-adding the farmer’s agricultural products.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turned over last month P.1.499 million worth of food processing and packaging support Shared Service Facility to the Northern Negros College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST) and is now operational.

Mayor Alfredo Marañon III said that the new facility will benefit the senior high and college students in the agricultural and entrepreneurial track through making alternative products using the agricultural produce of Sagay.

He said that with proper training, the students can create new value-added products from the crops that grow in Sagay like marang and pineapple fruits and the community can earn from it.

DTI has approved NONESCOST’s proposal to avail of the shared service facility in partnership with the city government, and the Department of Education-Division of Sagay.

Outgoing Division Superintendent Marsette Sabbaluca said that their partnership will pave the way to inclusive growth.

“It is our ultimate dream to make Sagay progressive and this we do through human resource and empowering our people through education.  The education sector has always the top priority of our city government,” she said.

The turnover on Sept. 18 was followed by the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) NONESCOST President Romulo Sisno and DTI-Negros Occidental Head Lea Gonzales.

Gonzales also said that this project of DTI aims to assist the farmers and entrepreneurs by providing them machinery and equipment to improve their products.

The partnership of NONESCOST and Dep Ed Sagay will encourage entrepreneurs, farmers and the community to engage in economic activities, she added.

Gonzales also mentioned the different SSF projects in Negros Occidental such as the Vermi Composting machine in Brgy. Puey, and organic farming in Bago.

Sisno also thanked DTI for partnering with NONESCOST because it would be a big help for the students and teachers and the community.(CITO)