The chimney's smoking, muscovado is back
Roxas City -- The once valuable muscovado sugar production is back in Capiz, courtesy of the municipality of Sigma.
The muscovado mill project started its run to churn out what has become a health product nowadays during its inauguration and blessing recently with the municipal government and Sigmahanon Development Foundation, Inc. behind it.
Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro, who has been supportive of the initiative, led local officials and guests at the maiden run of the mill located at Barangay Parian within the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) project area of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here.
The list of government institutions that are supporting the project also includes the Office of the President through the office of Sen. Manuel Roxas, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The DOST provincial office here said the muscovado mill project was pushed by the local government unit, based on an earlier feasibility study conducted by DAR, to provide more economic opportunities to barangay folks particularly beneficiaries of the government's agrarian reform program.
The project also showcases the convergence of support coming from government agencies who are involved in the implementation of DAR's ARC projects such as the DOST, DTI, DOLE and other institutions.
President Arroyo has time and again reiterated the rsolve of her Administration to push its economic program to put the country in First World status and create opportunities and environment that would give rise to more investments, jobs and livelihood for Filipinos.
The local government heads the management of the project through a project management board in tandem with a technical working group with line government agencies included. Also organized were the Parian Sugar Planters Association and the Barangay ARC multi-purpose cooperative.
The DOST said the Parian mill has revived the once-flourishing muscovado sugar milling in the province, located in the municipalities of Panay, Maayon, Pontevedra and Roxas City, to name a few former sites.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Eberardo Erispe, Jr. of DAR, Science Research Specialist II Gerbe Dellava of DOST, Mercy Young, head of DTI-Capiz Trade and Industry Development Division, and Norma Janabon of DOLE regional office represented their respective agencies at the inauguration.
(PIA-JSC)