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By Ruben D. Manahan 4th, Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo, along with Go Negosyo
and Benguet State University, launched the first-ever,
vegetable-based canton noodles in the country on Wednesday at
Dagohoy Public Market, San Andres, Manila.
The veggie noodles, which will be called “Proud Harvest,” are
squash-based and one of the products launched to simultaneously
address high crop wastage and increasing prices of foods.
Benguet State studies showed that 45 percent of
root crops and high-yielding vegetables grown in Benguet province
are thrown away.
Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship
Joey Concepcion told The Manila Times that Proud Harvest is 30-
percent squash, making it more nutritious and, at the same time,
cheaper.
“It is cheaper because 30 percent of the
ingredients are made up of squash, using less flour, which is
expensive in the local market,” he explained. “It is more
nutritious, since it is made from vegetables, not to mention the ‘fortificants,’
such as beta-carotene, in the noodles.”
Concepcion added that experts are looking at the
possibility of producing malunggay (moringa) and carrot-based
noodles.
The President, in her recent State of the Nation
Address, praised Go Negosyo for partnering with the government in
programs that aim to “unleash the entrepreneurial spirit” and
provide mentorship to aspiring businessmen.
She reiterated her message and thanked all those
who contributed to the development of Proud Harvest.
Concepcion said, “This project manifests a strong government and
private-sector partnership that directly assists an institution and
communities in running and growing business operations.”
The veggie noodles will retail at P34, around P4
less than regular noodles.
The Proud Harvest will be sold at the
government’s Tindahan Natin and at local markets nationwide in
August.
Also on Wednesday, President Arroyo reiterated
her defense of retaining the consumption tax, which critics are
saying should be scrapped to ease the burden of rising prices on
consumers.
She said the expanded value-added tax plays a
big role in funding projects for the poor, adding that P80 billion
of sales-tax revenues is funneled back to the people in terms of
pro-poor programs, public services and building of infrastructure,
such as irrigation systems, roads and roll-on-roll-off facilities.
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