The Department of Science and Technology Region V (DOST-V) through the Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) – Camarines Sur, partnered with the Office of the Vice President’s Angat Buhay Program and the Local Government Unit of Pamplona for the community-based project “Upgrading the Production of Value-Added Farm Products of Golden Parauma Producers Cooperative (GPPC)”. Through the Angat Buhay Program—of which GPPC is a beneficiary—the cooperative was able to link with the DOST that provided the appropriate S&T interventions.

Under the project, one unit of PORTASOL Multi-Purpose Thermal Drying Trays was recently awarded to GPPC at Tambo, Pamplona, Camarines Sur (CamSur). PORTASOL is a portable and lightweight solar dryer composed of aluminum thermal trays that can be laid down on an open field or assembled into racks with a plastic sheet cover as protection from pests and fungus. Developed by Francisco Pagayon, the equipment’s affordable and simple design provides two- to three-times faster drying rate than conventional pavement drying.

The PORTASOL is seen to greatly improve the quality of GPPC’s products that include chili powder, vegetable-based chips, and products from soya bean, pili, corn, rice, coconut and other high-value crops. The equipment will address the need to decrease post-harvest losses and increase product quality during drying that were perennial problems of the cooperative’s farmers and producers before.

As CamSur Provincial S&T Director Patrocinio N. Felizmenio remarked, DOST knew that the PORTASOL is the right technology to address the cooperative’s post-harvest losses while minimizing production cost, ensuring product quality, food hygiene, and safety.

LGU-Pamplona Acting Mayor Ronaldo Franco professed his support to the project and willingness to embark on more initiatives with DOST to improve the agricultural sector: “Simula pa man ay akin nag prayoridad ang patuloy na paunlarin ang ating agrikultura, kaya makakaasa ang lahat na nais magpaabot ng tulong sa suporta ng LGU-Pamplona.”

On the other hand, Babet Lavadia, OVP & Angat Buhay representative, expressed her appreciation to DOST, LGU-Pamplona and GPPC for their untiring work and support; further adding that Angat Buhay aims to deploy more DOST programs and technology to the program’s so-called Omasenso farmers.

The leadership of GCCP and its members expressed their appreciation and full commitment to the project that they know will greatly improve their livelihood. As GPPC Chairperson Anita Fernan puts it: “Hindi namin alam ang aming ginawa upang mapasama sa mga programa at proyekto ng DOST at Angat Buhay Program, subalit makakaasa po kayo na lahat ng proyektong ipinapaabot sa amin ay aming pangangalagaan at pauunlarin.” (DOST V PSTC-Camarines Sur)