Diffun, Quirino – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Quirino Field Office awarded a livelihood assistance package under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program to the Quirino Association of Agricultural Entrepreneurs (QAAE), a QSU-supported association on June 20, 2024 at the nursery building of the university.

The livelihood assistance included a dehydrator, a pulverizer, and boxes of masks, hairnets, work gloves, and aprons. These equipment  in the package will be utilized for ube (purple yam) processing to meet the increasing demand for JaBes Ube Powder manufactured by the Quirino Young Entrepreneur’s Association (QYEA). The product is now exported to Japan and other countries.

During the turnover ceremony, Geraldine B. Labayani, DOLE Provincial Director, emphasized the importance of teamwork and continuous learning for the project’s success. She stressed that the team’s dedication is crucial for productivity.

A training workshop on basic bookkeeping and entrepreneurship was also conducted for selected QAAE members to prepare them for their roles in ube processing. Ms. Jonalyn B. Abon, Junior Business Counselor from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), facilitated the training.

Meanwhile, Dr. Floriglod V. Saldaen, VP for Admin and Finance of QSU, represented QSU President, Dr. Hermenegildo F. Samoy, Jr. and Auxillary Enterprise Deparment Director, Dr. Mila Benabise in the ceremony. She expressed her gratitude to DOLE and other partner agencies for including the university in the project. “I believe that these young entrepreneurs will go a long way with this equipment,” she said.

The DOLE initiative is seen to empower Quirino’s agricultural entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary equipment and skills to improve their livelihood and productivity. I QIO