Davao del Norte (April 18) PIA Women among the indigenous peoples of Barangay Sabangan in San Isidro town, this province, have found a productive pastime to while their hours away.
Instead of spending their time gossiping or doing nothing, the IP women, who are mostly members of the Dibabawon tribe, have decided to organize themselves and start a venture producing and selling fresh home-made delicacies made out of organic root crops.
The mothers were given the opportunity to start their enterprise after undergoing the 2-day livelihood training on root crops kakanin (native delicacies)-making conducted by the Livelihood and Manpower Development Division of the Provincial Government, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).
The housewives, who are currently enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the DepEd, were taught on the proper preparation of native foods such as banana chips, cassava gel, muffins and chips, as well as, camote delight and bar.
Dominga Sumambot, 60 years old and a mother of 12, was delighted to learn about the prospect of earning additional income for her family by selling quality native foods.
She said she spends most of her time helping her husband in tending their 3-hectare farm in the neighboring barangay of Igangon.
With the new knowledge and skills acquired from the livelihood training, Sumambot now considers selling native delicacies in their church and the local school to earn more.
She is also excited on the possibility of their food products being marketed in malls and restaurants in Tagum City.
Pastora Tigtig, coordinator of the DepEd District ALS revealed that after the creation of the ALS-IP Pangkabuhayan Association, they are bent on producing and marketing quality native foods in different outlets in the capital city.
Romulo Tagalo, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Information Office assured the technical and logistical support of the provincial government to the group, through its Ugmad Komunidad (UK) program.
He said the province has backed the forming of 11 livelihood associations around the province, whose locally-made souvenir items and food products are now being displayed in the Produkto DavNor Pasalubong Centers at the Capitol Compound in Mankilam, Tagum City and in New Corella.
Governor Rodolfo del Rosario established the Pasalubong Center to help promote and market the home-made products in the province, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry and the office of 1st District Congressman Anthony del Rosario.
Tagalo reiterated the thrust of the governor in improving the lot of the farmers by teaching them how to process their harvest to add value to their farm produce and command higher price.
He also vouched for the marketability of the home-made delicacies of the IP mothers.
“Lami jud, gamay packaging na lang ug i-market nato aron sigurado mokita jud (Truly delicious. All that’s needed is a quality packaging and we are ready to market them),” Tagalo said after tasting them.(Noel Baguio-DavNor PIO)
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