MANOLO FORTICH WOMEN’S FEDERATION LEADS INAUGURATION OF NEW BAMBOO SHOOTS PROCESSING CENTER

Livelihood for the women

The aim to empower women in taking part with the municipality’s workforce for their own livelihood and economic growth goes tighter as a new Bamboo Shoots Processing Center opens to the women of the municipality with a blessing and inauguration led by Manolo Fortich Women’s Federation (MFWF) last Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at Barangay Tankulan, Manolo Fortich.

The opening started with a blessing ceremony led by Rev. Fr. Antonio Villaring for the newly delivered equipment in the facility that were provided and delivered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bukidnon which includes Water Retort, Vegetable Slicer, Gas Stove and Burner, Stainless sell tables, Vacuum Packaging Sealer, and Foot Sealers that are all 1.3 Million Pesos in total value.

Aside from the equipment, blessing was also bestowed on the existing building beside the Technical and Skills Development Center (TESDC) that now serves as the Bamboo Shoots Processing Center that was brought to restoration and repair by the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich with a total amount of 1.2 Million Pesos.

Moreover, in her overview of the project statement during the inauguration, MFWF’s President Nena B. Vallecera urges her members to maximize the use of the facility and extends her gratitude, “Sa akong mga kauban na mga kababaihan, ato gyud kini pahimuslan ang gihatag sa DTI, USTP (University of Science and Technology), ug sa atong LGU. In behalf of the Women’s Federation, nagpasalamat gyud kami sa inyong gihatag sa amo.”

In response, Danielle Ruth P. Ga of DTI Bukidnon and Shared Service Facility (SSF) Coordinator Head expresses her gratitude as well during her informative talk, “Kami nagapasalamat gyud mi nga naa najud balay na ma safekeep ang mga equipment na gipang hatag sa DTI. Hopefully we can make this facility an FDA registered facility kay aron tanan produkto na mo agi diri, maging FDA (Food and Drug Administration) registered na.”

The blessing and inauguration of the new Bamboo Shoots Processing Center was participated by Sangguniang Bayan Member and Committee Chairperson on Women, Children, and Childcare Coun. Joy L. Cordovez as well as Coun. Raquel A. Bayacag, members of the MFWF, representatives of Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project Monitor - Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bukidnon, and the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (USTP) who played a huge role in conducting trainings on how to process bamboo shoots to the designated operators of the Bamboo shoots processing equipment.

Furthermore, as this project was designed to provide a livelihood opportunity to the women of Manolo Fortich, Coun. Cordovez reminds the MFWF on how the facility has an impact on the women, “Naghinaot kami na kini nga proyekto, dili lang gyud siya mahimong simbolo sa economic growth para sa mga kababaihan na matagaan og livelihood, apan usa pud kini ka rason nga maghiusa gayod ang mga kababaihan diri sa atong lungsod sa Manolo Fortich.”

Manolo Fortich is a municipality rich in natural resources. The LGU recognizes this as its support has produced the success of this project, which is the utilization of the underutilized bamboo shoots which are abundant in the municipality during its growing season. The machines are of multi-use and can process other products whose raw materials are abundant in the locality as well. Now, not only women are empowered to partake in the workforce, but the municipality is also able to utilize its abundant resources.