Catanduanes village folks optimistic their enhanced ‘Suka’ (vinegar) training will give them happier lives

VIRAC, Catanduanes — Catandunganon barangay folks here are optimistic the improved vinegar production training provided them by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will give them more “maogmang buhay” or happier lives in the days ahead.

DOST Catanduanes chief, Engr. Marie Grace Molina said the training was also designed to help improve the quality of vinegar produced by villagers in Bagamanoc town.

She said 19 villagers, representing several groups from various barangays, participated in the training. “The Aug. 9-11 training equipped both our staff and the participants with the right and accelerated process of fermenting coco water and vinegar production,” she added.

Molina said the training will enable the trainees to make better use of “coco water from copra meat processing which could provide additional income to farmers and their associations.”

She said the comprehensive vinegar processing technology training DOST experts gave the villages covered background information and functions of vinegar installation, operation and maintenance of its system, basic steps in the preparation of alcoholic liquor.

The training, she added, also introduced the trainees to what is referred to as “Pearson square” as part of the computation of ratio of sugar in the vinegar solution, its importance, and actual titration, as well as the cost-benefit analysis of vinegar production utilizing coco water.