Mango, cacao constitute recently launched research-based beverage

Tuburan campus director Pedrito Pontillas alongside proponents promoted  blended beverage from seaweed, mango and cacao on June 19th as part of the project “Technology Commercialization of Blended Beverage from Seaweed and Selected Tropical Fruits” funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).

Seaweed (Eucheuma spinosum) is the main ingredient of the food product supplied by Tamiao Seaweed Farmers Association in Bantayan Island.

It is blended with either mango (Manngifera indica Linn) or tableya (Theobroma cacao), identified as priority crops in region 7, according to Jerwin Zanoria of CTU Tuburan, one of the researchers.

DAR-funded blended beverage commercialization project is launched on June 19, 2020 in CTU Tuburan.

Among the beneficiaries of the project at the launching were the Philippine National Police (PNP) Tuburan, Rural Health Unit (RHU), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Tuburan District Hospital.

Dr. Pontillas linked with Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative to further the marketing plans of the beverage starting this year.

After CTU Tuburan, a similar activity is expected in Argao, Barili and Pinamungahan, with project leader Rosalyn Alburo and co-researchers Dr. Pet Roey Pascual and Prof. Lorelie Escabal of CTU Barili, Dr. Pet Anthony Pascual of Southern Leyte State University, and Zanoria. /ICPA Tuburan/UICPA