๐ฆ๐๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฐ, ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป- As part of the implementation of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program here, the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office 1 through the Provincial Science and Technology Center Ilocos Sur conducted a Training on Bottled Fish Products and awarded processing equipment and packaging materials to Ikan iti Sulvec Dur-as ti Asosasyon (ISDAlicious), an organized association of the barangay, last June 28, 2022 at Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC)- Narvacan Campus.
โThe activity is part of the Livelihood Intervention of the CEST program which aims to increase the income of the community through the provision of appropriate training and technology interventions to insurgency-affected areas,โ said Engr. Jordan L. Abad, OIC PSTC Ilocos Sur, discussing the rationale of the activity.
Fourteen (14) members of the ISDAlicious were capacitated on bottling Bangus and are the recipient of processing equipment such as a unit chest freezer, a stainless table with under shelf, a stainless table with double sink, 1032 bottles as initial packaging materials with complete accessories among other kitchen utensils.
โWe are very glad and grateful that DOST brings this livelihood training and is always here to support our endeavor in Narvacan, specifically in Barangay Sulvec,โ Hon Jovenniano B. Ampo Jr, Sangguniang bayan member, said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Emed F. Manzano, Campus Administrator Narvacan Campus said that they are having coordination with the association and allowing them to use a laboratory room within the ISPSC-Narvacan Campus for the fish processing endeavors as part of their Gender and Development initiatives after knowing the adoption of training organized by DOST last year. โYou are very lucky and blessed as you are assisted by DOST in this endeavor as you are equipped with training and equipment for you to increase your income,โ she added.
Ms. Meryl A. Bernardino, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST-1 Food Innovation Center of Pangasinan State University-DOST, and Ms. Catherine Lictao, Project Assistant I of PSTC-Pangasinan, served as the resource person and facilitator, respectively, introducing Bangus bottling technology of the DOST-ITDI.
โAgyamyaman kami iti amin nga tulong yo tapno makarubwat kami iti panagprocesso me iti ikan,โ said Mrs. Encarnita C. Prangan, association President.
The association is organized by DOST-1 last year after training on smoked fish and bagoong processing. They were closely monitored under the CEST-ELCAC program wherein they started producing smoked bangus and bagoong and are now upgraded with the training and provision of equipment.
โWe are continuously providing you with appropriate interventions that will support this venture, we are together with you in this undertaking,โ Engr. Abad ended.
