TARLAC CITY – About 40 individuals, primarily youth and housewives, received food processing skills training from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Tarlac through its Negosyo Center in Ramos town.
The activity, organized in collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Guiteb, aimed to equip participants with practical skills they can use to earn income and potentially start small business ventures.
During the training, resource speaker Arceli Oriondo demonstrated how to prepare and process various products, including tocino, longganisa, banana chips, and kamote chips.
Participants also received hands-on guidance in food packaging and costing.
SK Chairperson Tyron Esmeralda expressed gratitude for the partnership, stating, “We’re very thankful for our partnership with DTI Negosyo Center in Ramos for making this event possible. This program gives our youth a chance to learn useful skills, stay productive, and avoid negative influences. It also shows that SK programs go beyond sports–we’re here to support the overall growth of our community.”
Meanwhile, participant Nelson De Vera shared how the training benefited them.
“Ang laking tulong ng ganitong programa sa mga kabataan na katulad namin, na mamulat sa buhay pagnenegosyo. Na may kakayahan din kaming kumita upang makatulong hindi lang para sa aking sarili kundi pati na rin sa aming pamilya. Sana po ay magtuloy-tuloy pa ang mga programang ito para mas marami pang makikinabang (This kind of program is a big help for young people like us, as it opens our eyes to entrepreneurship. It shows that we also have the ability to earn and help not only ourselves but also our families. I hope programs like this will continue so that more people can benefit),” he said.
For her part, DTI OIC-Provincial Director Florencia Balilo underscored that this initiative is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusive growth by providing livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurial education at the community level.
“We commend the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Guiteb for being proactive partners in community development. We hope that the participants will continue to enrich and apply what they have learned,” she added.
This training is one of the capacity-building initiatives under the Negosyo Center Program, which supports aspiring micro, small, and medium enterprises by offering access to training, mentorship, and market opportunities. (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)