The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-CALABARZON together with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and the Local Government Unit of Tanauan (LGU-Tanauan) inaugurated the mango and calamansi processing facility for Magsasakang Tanaueño Agricultural Marketing Cooperative (MTAMC) located at Brgy. Janopol Oriental, Tanauan City, Batangas, Feb. 21.
The facility was intended for the production of mango and calamansi-based ready-to-drink juice drink, concentrate, and puree. The processing equipment needed during production, such as double-jacketed kettle, semi-automatic filling and capping machines, and stainless steel tables, was funded by DOST-CALABARZON under the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) program. The product formulation and processes, on the other hand, were technologies developed by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI).
DA-PRDP and LGU-Tanauan funded the construction of the processing facility, including the provision of key infrastructure, facilities, technology, and information to raise the income, productivity, and competitiveness of MTAMC and its members.
As an agricultural cooperative, MTAMC has long been engaged in mango and calamansi production since its formation. They ventured into post-harvest processing as a value addition to their produce and to utilize their supply surplus during peak season. In 2020, members of the cooperative were capacitated on mango and calamansi-based products processing through a training provided by DOST-Batangas and DOST-ITDI. The following year, the cooperative received a GIA project entitled “Science and Technology-Based Support Intervention for the Establishment of the Mango and Calamansi-based Products Processing Enterprise of Magsasakang Tanaueño Agricultural Marketing Cooperative in Tanauan City, Batangas.” The project provided MTAMC with S&T-based support interventions that helped them establish their mango and calamansi-based products processing enterprise.
DOST-Batangas has also conducted a technical consultation with an expert from the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) last October 25-26, 2022, to improve the production mechanism of the cooperative using DOST-provided processing equipment. Assistance on packaging and labelling design development was also provided by DOST.
To ensure the sustainability of their enterprise, all 75 farmer-members of the cooperative from the different barangays in Tanauan City have already planted mango and calamansi trees, which are expected to give them a 50% increase in production compared to their existing harvest rate. Meanwhile, Yazaki Torres Manufacturing Inc. (YTMI) has already committed to market a portion of the cooperative’s processed products in their canteen and commissary.
Present during the inauguration ceremony were DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director, Ms. Emelita P. Bagsit, DA-CALABARZON Deputy Project Director, Engr. Redelliza A. Gruezo, Chief of Staff of Cong. Maria Theresa V. Collantes, Atty. King Collantes, Tanauan City Mayor, Hon. Nelson “Sonny” P. Collantes, Tanauan City Vice Mayor Herminigildo G. Trinidad, Jr. representative, Ms. Lhissa Malabanan, Tanauan City Administrator, Mr. Wilfredo P. Ablao, Sangguniang Panglunsod Members, DOST-Batangas Provincial Director, Ms. Felina C. Malabanan, representatives from DOST-ITDI, and MTAMC Chairperson, Hon. Maricar E. Maranan.#
