| TO STEP UP JAGNA’S CALAMAY GUV PLEDGES P.7M |
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| Saturday, 03 October 2009 | |
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Governor Erico Aumentado unveiled his plan to commit P700,000.00 of funding to be used in the purchase of equipment which will help improve Jagna’s centuries-old original calamay trade. This was the welcome news revealed by the Governor during the Consultative Meeting cum Discussion on Shelf Stable Calamay with Mayor Exuperio Lloren, LGU-Jagna officials, officers of the Jagna Calamay Makers and Vendors Association (JACAMAVEA) and heads of national line agencies related to the said industry at the Capt. Gregorio Caseñas Hall in Jagna on September 28. Particularly invited to the said forum was Department of Science & Technology (DOST) Senior Science Research Specialist and Kaliwat Jagnaanon Ms. Brenda Sinco who gave a thorough presentation on the Retort Pouch Technology. As explained, retort is a process that uses heat and pressure to cook food in a strong, sealed package. Because the packaging is less bulky and cheaper than traditional cans and jars, foods get cooked faster at lesser cost. Ms. Sinco said that the said technology was first developed in the US military and used on its space program in the 1970s. “Through the Packaging Research and Development Center (PRDC) of the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), an agency of the DOST, retort was adapted in response to industry’s clamor for the improvement of local product packaging systems”, Ms. Sinco explained. “The Retort Pouch Technology which developed shelf stable rice meals, meat and traditional snack foods is very applicable to our very own calamay,” Ms. Sinco added. During the open forum however it was found out that adapting the retort for Jagna’s calamay involves research and innovation which will include material construction, format and properties, seal width, headspace requirement, and performance of retort foods against environmental hazards and these will incur the local industry millions of pesos. In his remark, Gov. Aumentado proposed to the DOST through Ms. Sinco to conduct further studies as to other apposite technologies affordable enough but will still extend the shelf life of the calamay product without sacrificing its original and distinct coconut package.  Gov. Erico Aumentado expresses his full support to the local original calamay industry of Jagna as he pledges to give P700,000.00 as initial funding to the initiative of the Local Government Unit of Jagna in improving the product. More and more consumers nowadays are seeking products with smaller packaging, re-sealability and longer shelf life. Mayor Exuperio Lloren listens intently at the back. (photo MPIO) |
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