BANGUED, Abra – Victoria B. Alcid, who owns one of the biggest sugarcane products exporters in the province, credits her business’ success to the assistance she received from different government agencies.
She said that through this business, she was able to send her six children to school and help her fellow farmers by buying their sugarcane harvests.
“Through the Department of Science and Technology, I was able to loan more than a million to purchase a presser which also benefits my fellow sugarcane farmers in our community because they are using it also. Mas mabili ang products namin dahil sa tulong na ito,” she said.
Alcid is one of the current beneficiaries of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program of the DOST.
There were also various inputs from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment such as additional equipment to boost its production.
Alexandra’s Enterprises, which Alcid owns and manages, sells sugarcane products such as muscovado, balikutsa, and sugarcane wine that are sold to other provinces in the country. She also retails red rice, sesame seeds, and laddit noodles.
“Nakarating na ang products natin sa Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao at pati na rin sa labas kasi member na kami ng Philippine Exporters Confederation. Sila ang link namin para mai-labas namin ang products namin dito sa Pilipinas,” she said.
With increased and improved production and market links, Alexandra’s Enterprises is now earning a minimum of P30,000 per month.
Alcid hopes that the government partnership they have in their community will continue to help more sugarcane farmers and families in Barangay Agtangao, Bangued.
“Sa mga agencies na tumulong sa akin, maraming maraming salamat at sana tuloy tuloy pa rin ang suporta ninyo sa amin ng mga enterprises at sa mga pangangailangan namin,” she said.
Barangay Agtangao is a vast land of sugarcane farms, thus local farmers also venture into making local delicacies out of sugarcane juices. – Christian Allister Tubadeza
