Cops spearhead malunggay enterprise

MANILA, Philippines – The local police of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan have found a new role.

In coordination with local government and the Gawad Kalinga community, the law enforcers launched an economic program aimed at helping residents find additional sources of income.

Sta. Barbara Police Chief Superintendent Eric Noble said the program, dubbed as “Kalayaan ng Kababaihan sa Kahirapan” (KKK), has started a malunggay enterprise as part of the Independence Day celeb-ration in the town.

“We have been making malunggay pasta ever since our training at the police station last April.  We have been using malunggay noodles and pasta for our feeding program,” explained PO3 Ruth Poserio, officer-in-charge of the local PNP Integrated Transformation Program (ITP) and officer of the KKK group.

Noble said the KKK group received three sets of pasta maker and blender bought from funds raised during a golf tournament hosted by the local police earlier this year.

A group of 40 women mostly from the Gawad Kalinga community in Brgy. Leet are determined to improve their household income through the malunggay noodle-making enterprise.  

“Our women have found a very meaningful and practical way of celebrating Independence Day – through this pursuit of freedom from hunger, malnutrition, ignorance and poverty,” said Velasco, who vowed to continue to support this innovative fight against poverty.

Baby Montemayor, head trainer of KKK and Kagawad of Brgy. Leet, said they continue to offer training in the different barangays and are organizing communities to plant malunggay.

“We are also preparing to manufacture malunggay noodles commercially,” Montemayor added.

The initiative is part of citizen empowering activities under the ITP under the leadership of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and in pursuit of environmental and economic livelihood programs.