SAN JOSE, Tarlac: About 24 members of the Abelling tribe here recently finished a two-day skills training seminar on processing of root crops and vegetables, namely turmeric, ginger, cassava, sweet potato, squash and malunggay. The training was initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) as part of the expanded Community Empowerment through Science and Technology program, DoST provincial director Karen Yango-Dañez said. Aside from the training, the DoST will link the community with nongovernment organization Tarlac Agricultural University and Got Heart Foundation to develop and market their products, and provide “food processing equipment such as weighing scale, stainless steel table, steamer, grinder, double burner gas stove and foot stomping machine, and installation of a water filtration system to supply the tribe with potable water,” Dañez added. Meanwhile, Municipal Indigenous People Mandatory Representative Edna Villegas thanked the DoST for its concern for the tribe.
