BALER, Aurora – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turned over full ownership of a coconut-based food processing equipment to a farmers’ cooperative in Dilasag, Aurora.
The Tulungan ng mga Magniniog ng Sierra Madre Aurora Inc. (TMSMAI) initially received the equipment in 2021 under a two-year usufruct agreement.
DTI Provincial Director Aldrin Veneracion said the equipment worth P231,900 included an oven, dough roller, acetator, working table, and proofing rack.
“We decided to grant full ownership to TMSMAI after they showed a boost in productivity and has proven that they can sustainably manage and operate the facility in accordance with the objectives of the project,” he shared.
Under the Shared Service Facility (SSF) program of DTI, qualified cooperators of identified industry clusters are provided with processing or manufacturing equipment to assist micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to provide livelihood for the community.
Over the two-year period, TMSMAI aided a total of 170 beneficiaries and MSMEs, provided local jobs, and generated an average of 167,000 sales per month or 34,000 pieces of coconut-based product production per month.
“DTI is confident that TMSMAI can now respond to wider customer demands and become part of the bigger value chain,” Veneracion added.
For his part, TMSMAI Chairperson Joel Laurencio expressed appreciation to DTI for the assistance.
“Without DTI’s support, we would not have achieved our goals,” he stressed.
Laurencio also pledged that the project will be strengthened, preserved, and developed by their organization for the benefit of the community and its members.
To date, DTI has established a total of 41 SSFs projects worth P19 million in the province. (CLJD/MAT-PIA 3)