COVID-19 affected communities in the Ilocos Region are expected to have benefited from the distribution of fresh and processed oyster mushrooms in their areas.
Communities in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan were the target recipients of almost two tons of mushrooms.
It can be noted that oyster mushrooms are rich in protein and essential amino acids, low in fat, high in fiber, and can aid in boosting the body’s immune system.
This initiative is made possible through a project implemented by Maritess Raboy of the University of Northern Philippines, which is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The project titled “Science-based Assistance in Response to COVID-19 Crisis through Distribution of Oyster Mushroom to Affected Communities and Frontline Hospitals” has started last April 14 and is expected to be completed on June 13, 2020.
“This initiative will help mushroom growers and at the same time provide food to indigent families as well as frontline hospitals,” said DOST-PCAARRD’s Technology Transfer and Promotion Division officer-in-charge Noel A. Catibog.
The identified communities belong to the municipalities of: Alilem, Sta. Catalina, Sta. Maria, Suyo, and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur; Binmaley, Anda, and Alaminos City in Pangasinan; and Aringay in La Union.
According to Catibog, the project will purchase the products from mushroom growers and in turn, distribute these to the nearest local government units (LGUs).
The LGUs will then be in charge of distributing the fresh and processed mushroom products to the indigent families and frontline hospitals in the identified municipalities.
This initiative is an offshoot of the recently completed project dubbed “Science and Technology Community-Based Farm on Oyster Mushroom Production as an Alternative Source of Livelihood in Disaster Vulnerable Areas in Region 1.”
Catibog said the project has empowered the mushroom growers in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union through a series of trainings, distribution of mushroom production starter kits, and were assisted in the processing and marketing of their corresponding oyster mushroom fruits.
Earlier, two major programs of the DOST-PCAARRD contributed to the Bayanihan Act by distributing food and non-food products in the COVID-19 affected communities and frontline hospitals.
Products, valued at P1.1 million, produced under the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) and the Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism Programs will be distributed in selected areas in the country.
Said products are outputs of technical trainings and trial runs of the incubatees originally intended for product testing and market validation, which had been on hold because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
PCAARRD is one of the sectoral councils of the DOST, which is mandated to formulate policies, plans, and programs for science and technology-based R&D in the different sectors under its concern.
It coordinates, evaluates, and monitors the national R&D efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector.
It also allocates government and external funds for R&D and generates resources to support its program. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
