A processing center devoted to instant ginger powder (salabat) production in Barangay Pinagdanlayan, Dolores, was inaugurated by Quezon Gov. David C. Suarez on Friday.
The new Instant Salabat Processing Center of the Pinagdanlayan Rural Improvement Club Multipurpose Cooperation (RICMPC) was built by the provincial government to help the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) boost its instant ginger-powder production.
Suarez said he was amazed by the rapid growth of the cooperative, saying that during his last visit in 2012, the “income, assets, liabilities of RIC was only P2.4 million but after just one year it rose to P4.8 million,” and attributed the growth to the establishment of the processing center.
Due to the growing production of instant ginger powder, RIC requested for the construction of another building to add more working space.
The governor responded in the affirmative, saying that the Provincial Engineering personnel will come to measure the site for the construction of the building a week from now.
”Your request to expand is just proper since you need more space,” Suarez said.
Suarez also gave RIC P200,000 for the purchase of generator sets so as not to hamper production in times of power outages.
He also appealed to Dolores Mayor Renato Alilio, the legislative council and barangay officials to protect the salabat industry.
He asked for the passage of an ordinance that will protect the supply of ginger not only in the municipality of Dolores but in nearby municipalities to maintain the quality.
Alilio expressed confidence that the product of Pingdanlayan RIC will get widely distributed as the local government is now looking for possible buyers from abroad.
PNA