For the third straight year, Oriental Mindoro’s agrarian reform beneficiaries have won a major award during the Agraryo Trade Fair 2007.
ARBs from Pola won the “Best Juice” in the beverage category with its Calamansi Concentrate with ginger and honey, besting three other entries from across the country. The product was concocted by ARBs belonging to the Matulatula ARC Cooperative (MARCCO) in ARC Matulatula, Pola.
This is the second time in a row that Calamansi Concentrate with ginger and honey has won the first prize in the said category.
The trade fair is one of the highlights of the celebration of the 19th CARP Anniversary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) thru the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD).
MARCCO has 193 members and started calamansi processing in 2003. The Upland Marketing Foundation, Inc. (UMFI) assisted the coop in developing and improving the product.
The 2005 winner in the same category was the Dalandan Concentrate of the Socorro Central Highlands ARC in Socorro while the Smoked Spanish Sardines of San Teodoro won the 1st prize in the sardines category in 2006.
Different products, food and non-food were being displayed during the trade fair which featured products being produced by the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the 1,784 Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) nationwide.
Other products brought to the trade fair were: Smoked Spanish Sardines of Samahang Nayon ARC Cooperative (SANARCCO) in Tacligan ARC, Tacligan, San Teodoro; Raw Wild Honey of Honeybee Gatherer’s Association of Bigaan in San Teodoro, Inc, (HGABSTI) in Bigaan, San Teodoro.
Other products displayed were the Virgin Coconut Oil of Bigaan ARC Cooperative (BARCCO) in Bigaan; Abaca Matting of ARC Cooperative of Calangatan (ARCCCA) in Calangatan; woodcraft of ARB Entrepreneur Jorge del Rosario , nito plates and rattan bags of ARB Entrepreneur Lurinyth Fajutag, both from Bigaan, Tacligan ARC in San Teodoro; the famous and delicious dinurado rice in Oriental Mindoro with the malagkit, organic rice and ordinary rice of Sta. Maria ARC Cooperative (SMARCC) of Naujan East ARC in Sta. Maria, and the black Pepper of Mahabang Parang ARB Cooperative (MAPARBECO) of Naujan West ARC both in Naujan ; and Poprice of Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CMPC) of Gloria ARC in Gloria.
These cooperatives are being assisted by the DAR thru its Support Services Program.
The highlights of the Agraryo is the awarding during the closing ceremony from which the products were awarded in different categories and also the best booths.
According to Ester P. Pagilagan, the Provincial Marketing Assistance Officer (PMAO) of DAR Oriental Mindoro, the DAR thru CARPO Isagani G. Placido and Provincial head PARO II Carolina LB. Basa, extends its gratitude to the continuing support of the municipal government through the mayors and provincial government headed by Governor Arnan C. Panaligan.
She also cited the support of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry, which have been very active in supporting the ARBs and cooperatives of the Department of Agrarian Reform in the form of fund accessing and technical support for the processing of their products.
\MAYOR ALEX ARANAS AWARDS THE PLAQUE TO CHAIRMAN RICARDO LABAO AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MARCCO FOR THEIR PRODUCT “CALAMANSI WITH GINGER AND HONEY”.
MARCCO MEMBERS WITH MAYOR ARANAS, PMAO ESTER PAGILAGAN, AC WILSON DELICA AND DF LUCIMAR PADERES DURING THE AWARDING CEREMONY IN POLA. OATHTAKING OF MAYOR ALEX ARANAS. MARCCO won the 1st prize in Beverage Category for its “Calamansi Concentrate with ginger and honey”.
