By
Alfonso T. Ruda
POLANCO,
Zamboanga del Norte - The Department of Science and Technology
(DOST)-IX through its Zamboanga del Norte provincial office has turned-over P413
thousand check to the People’s Officials, Employees and Community–Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (POEMCO) in a simple turnover ceremony on Friday at the municipal
hall here.
POEMCO
General Manager Roger Ladera personally received from Provincial Director
Marcial Dahonan of DOST-Zamboanga del Norte the said amount, which will be used
to purchase cassava-processing equipment such as flourmill, hammer mill, feed
mixer and electric bag closer.
Under
the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), the said
financial assistance is payable in three years without interest.
The
DOST is supporting POEMCO’s project in order to supply the volume of cassava
flour needed by the bakeshops in the province.
It
was learned that there is an increasing demand for cassava flour as many bakeshops
are now using it as substitute for wheat flour.
Presently,
the POEMCO is maintaining a 160-hectare lot tilled by its farmer-members and
planted with cassava. The produce is delivered to San Miguel Foods Inc. to be
processed into animal feeds.
With
DOST’s financial assistance, POEMCO hoped to produce 60 bags of flour monthly
to be distributed to its six market outlets and 10 bakeries.