BSU professor gets presidential award

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Many farmers and entrepreneurs in the Cordillera are now benefiting from a vegetable food processing center and technology on food storage – thanks to an assistant professor of the Benguet State University here

For this, Dr. Violeta B. Salda, of the Benguet State University, won the 2009 Presidential Lingkod Bayan award for her postharvest and processing technologies on yam that led to development and marketing of yam-based bakery goods.

As early as 1999, Salda of the BSU’s Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center started submitting proposals for a vegetable processing center that would help poor farmers in Benguet improve their income.

It took her years of revising and following up proposals and coping with changing school administrators before the project was finally underway. The processing center was first housed at the NPRCRTC, but a more modern facility was later constructed through a P10-million grant given by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The squash-enriched canton noodles became the Benguet Vegetable Processing Center’s first commercial-scale product. RFM Corp is initially distributing the vegetable noodles under the “Proud Harvest” brand to Tindahan Natin outlets in the Cordillera Region, Regions 1 and 2, and Metro Manila.

The product is also available at the BSU Marketing Center and selected groceries around La Trinidad and Baguio. Aside from producing healthy food variants, the BVPC accommodates educational visits for students, researchers and local government representatives who are interested in learning about vegetable processing.

Salda admits hard work and dedication were poured for the project, not only hers but also of people from various public and private agencies. Those who assisted in additional funding, technical, packaging and marketing assistance include the BSU, Department of Science and Technlogy through the Food and Nutrition Research Institute and departments of Agriculture, Welfare and Development, Trade and Industry, Philippine Information Agency, provincial government and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship.

From July to December 2008, the center purchased 7,215 kilos of assorted vegetables worth more than P100,000.00 from farmer suppliers in Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan, Pangasinan, and La Union. The BVPC has also thrown in its share of government income, as the purchase of processing equipment alone has contributed a total revenue of more than P160,000.

With perseverance, Salda turned her simple dream for Benguet farmers into a fast growing venture in the food industry. And it is but apt he was recognized by Malacanang for her efforts. The Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award is one of three categories in the annual Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees.

It is conferred on an individual or group for extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that resulted to nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. The search aims to recognize and reward state officials and employees for their outstanding contributions and consistent display of exemplary conduct and ethical behavior.

The Pagasa Award, meanwhile, is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for outstanding contributions resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.

The Dangal Ng Bayan Award is given to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior under Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).