8/10/2019 A Young Entrepreneur and Dost v Setup Beneficiary Ventures in Muscovado Based Delicacies in Polangui Albay

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A young entrepreneur and DOST V SETUP beneficiary ventures in muscovado-based delicacies in Polan

a young entrepreneur and DOST V SETUP beneficiary ventures in muscovado-baseddelicacies in Polangui, Albay The highlands of Polangui, Albay is a known sugar canegrowing area in the province. There is a huge demand for sugar cane in the production ofmuscovado and other muscovado-based delicacies due to its natural and highly nutritive value

and increasing consumers interest on healthy and organic foods. Having realized this greatpotential, Ms. Sheina Marie C. Sambitan, a 26 year old entrepreneur ventured in the productionof quality muscovado and other related food items. Ms.Sambitan established the Sambitan Foods and Delicacies in April 2008. It is a soleproprietorship business enterprise that produces and supplies muscovado sugar/block, syrupand coco jam in the locality and nearby communities, Sorsogon and Cavite. It is the firstFDA-compliant and DTI-assisted and registered One-Town-One Product (OTOP) firm in themunicipality. The firm regularly participates in local and national trade fairs such as IbalongFestival, Orgullo kan Bikol, Pinoy to Island conducted in the region and/or Metro Manila.

Muscovado, locally known as panocha, calamay or sangkaka is a type of unrefined, pureand non-centrifugal cane sugar in a semi-spherical block wrapped in dried banana leaves.Other product lines include muscuvado syrup and sugar. In terms of nutritional value comparedto the more popular white sugar (has 99.5% sucrose), muscuvado has 187 grams of calcium,58 grams of phosphorous, 4.8 grams of iron, 757 grams of potassium and 97 grams of sodium.Aside from this product advantage, the firm is committed to provide customers with quality andaffordable muscovado products. A pair of muscovado block is sold at P 30/kg. The muscovadosugar and syrup are sold at P 35/kg and P90/gallon, respectively.

In her desire to upgrade the operation of its small-scale muscovado processing plant utilizingstate-of-the-art processing technology, Ms. Sambitan availed of DOST-Small EnterpriseTechnology Upgrading Program (SETUP)s assistance for the project Upgrading Small-scaleSugarcane Muscovado Processing thru Modern Production Technology in August 2011. Theimproved process and product will enable the firm to meet the increasing demand for saidproducts in the national and international markets.

On 11 January 2012, DOST-SETUP approved a funding support of P498,000 for theprovision of sugarcane juicer/extractor, filtering machine, clarifying or liming tank, cystallizer orpowdering machines, foot sealer, stainless table and automatic weighing scale.

DOSTs continuing efforts through SETUP as its banner program contribute in developing thelocal industries and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in partnership with theacademe, LGUs and other private organizations in the region, Sambitan Food and Delicacies

will surely satisfy anyones cravings for sweet and natural taste of native delicacies and areavailable at the firms production site in Sta. Cruz, Polangui, Albay (P.O.Lucena/D.A.Pea,

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8/10/2019 A Young Entrepreneur and Dost v Setup Beneficiary Ventures in Muscovado Based Delicacies in Polangui Albay

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A young entrepreneur and DOST V SETUP beneficiary ventures in muscovado-based delicacies in Polan

DOST V/J.A.B.Elegado, PSTC-Albay).

The highlands of Polangui, Albay is a known sugar cane growing area in the province. There isa huge demand for sugar cane in the production of muscovado and other muscovado-based

delicacies due to its natural and highly nutritive value and increasing consumers interest onhealthy and organic foods. Having realized this great potential, Ms. Sheina Marie C. Sambitan,a 26 year old entrepreneur ventured in the production of quality muscovado and other relatedfood items. Ms. Sambitan established the Sambitan Foods and Delicacies in April 2008. It is a soleproprietorship business enterprise that produces and supplies muscovado sugar/block, syrupand coco jam in the locality and nearby communities, Sorsogon and Cavite. It is the firstFDA-compliant and DTI-assisted and registered One-Town-One Product (OTOP) firm in themunicipality. The firm regularly participates in local and national trade fairs such as Ibalong

Festival, Orgullo kan Bikol, Pinoy to Island conducted in the region and/or Metro Manila.

Muscovado, locally known as panocha, calamay or sangkaka is a type of unrefined, pureand non-centrifugal cane sugar in a semi-spherical block wrapped in dried banana leaves.Other product lines include muscuvado syrup and sugar. In terms of nutritional value comparedto the more popular white sugar (has 99.5% sucrose), muscuvado has 187 grams of calcium,58 grams of phosphorous, 4.8 grams of iron, 757 grams of potassium and 97 grams of sodium.Aside from this product advantage, the firm is committed to provide customers with quality andaffordable muscovado products. A pair of muscovado block is sold at P 30/kg. The muscovadosugar and syrup are sold at P 35/kg and P90/gallon, respectively.

In her desire to upgrade the operation of its small-scale muscovado processing plant utilizingstate-of-the-art processing technology, Ms. Sambitan availed of DOST-Small EnterpriseTechnology Upgrading Program (SETUP)s assistance for the project Upgrading Small-scaleSugarcane Muscovado Processing thru Modern Production Technology in August 2011. Theimproved process and product will enable the firm to meet the increasing demand for saidproducts in the national and international markets.On 11 January 2012, DOST-SETUP approved a funding support of P498,000 for theprovision of sugarcane juicer/extractor, filtering machine, clarifying or liming tank, cystallizer orpowdering machines, foot sealer, stainless table and automatic weighing scale.

DOSTs continuing efforts through SETUP as its banner program contribute in developing thelocal industries and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in partnership with theacademe, LGUs and other private organizations in the region, Sambitan Food and Delicacieswill surely satisfy anyones cravings for sweet and natural taste of native delicacies and areavailable at the firms production site in Sta. Cruz, Polangui, Albay (P.O.Lucena/D.A.Pea,DOST V/J.A.B.Elegado, PSTC-Albay).

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