DOST-NCR Signs MOA with Muntinlupa City, Extends Livelihood Assistance To Women Groups

The Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) and Local Government of Muntinlupa through the Muntinlupa City Gender and Development Office (GAD) and Muntinlupa City Technical Institute (MCTI) sealed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) along with a Ceremonial Turnover of food processing equipment to women producer’s cooperative in Muntinlupa.

DOST Regional Director Jose B. Patalinjug III, City Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi, and Congressman Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon of the Lone District of Muntinlupa led the signing ceremony on June 22, 2021 at the Muntinlupa Training and Resource Center for Women, Muntinlupa City.

The project entitled, “Development of Peanut Butter and Thermally Processed Bangus in Oil as Training cum Production for Muntinlupa City’s Various Women’s Producer Groups” is under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program of DOST-NCR which aims to support and uplift women in the communities by providing them an opportunity to improve their local products and also boost the Food Processing Course of MCTI through the DOST-NCR’s S&T trainings and technology-based enterprise assistance.

In pursuit of developing savory and safe products, the Food Safety and R&D Team of DOST-NCR conducted several trainings and provided technical advisory on food safety, product standardization, and compliance to mandatory labeling requirements. The project will also improve the cooperative’s layout facility for a better packaging and labeling of safe, good quality thermally processed bottled Bangus in Oil and Peanut Butter following the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standard. Moreover, processing equipment such as roaster, peanut peeler, peanut crusher, pulverizer, and induction sealer were handed out to them.

Upholding DOST-NCR’s vision in promoting food safety, this initiative will likely help empower women beneficiaries of the community to boost their skills and provide additional income for their families.

To date, the women’s cooperative was able to sell a total of 2,751 bottles of bangus in oil and 1,360 jars of peanut butter through their active participation in bazaars, exhibits, and through the use of social media platforms.

RD Patalinjug III also lauded the Local Government of Muntinlupa for sharing the same objective in ensuring the successful implementation of this project and stressed that DOST-NCR will always support the city in the continuous promotion of both Food Safety and Women Empowerment.

By: Shaira Rapisora, SCCU