Diocesan group gets coco oil processing equipment from DTI
ANAHAWAN, Southern Leyte, Oct. 9 (PIA) -- The Diocesan Social Action Center (DSAC) of Maasin Inc., a faith-based group, received a set of equipment for processing virgin coconut oil under the Shared Service Facility (SSF) project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Rev. Fr. Harlem Gozo, DSAC director, accepted the certificate of turnover from Michael Nunez, DTI provincial director, during a formal launching ceremony held at barangay Canlabian, this municipality.
Attending the turnover rites, held just five days after a cacao processing SSF project in Sogod town was delivered last week, were barangay officials led by Merlie Macion, Punong Barangay of Canlabian, and Anahawan Vice Mayor Nestor Vistal, among others.
"Under the Oil Expeller Facility, DSAC received P252,000 worth of virgin coconut oil processing equipment which includes 6 units coconut grater, 4 units stainless steel vat, and a stainless-steel working table," said Disereely Maco, trade and industry development specialist (TIDS) at the DTI provincial office.
Vice Mayor Vistal, in his speech, expressed appreciation and gratitude to the DTI in putting up the SSF project for extracting coco oil in the municipality, saying that he saw in the project "its great potential in changing the face of Anahawan's coconut industry," his long-time aspiration.
For his part, director Nunez emphasized the significance of the project, a solution to perpetual constraints faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), acquiring sophisticated equipment and machineries that can produce quality, competitive products.
"When the group is not processing, let non-members use the facility and the equipment with a fee" to cover costs on electricity and maintenance, Nunez declared.
DSAC director Fr. Gozo also thanked the DTI for the project, and committed to operate it based on the provisions of the memorandum of agreement.
"This project is a blessing from God," he intoned. (LDL/MMPPIA-8, Southern Leyte)