‘Pancit Lopez’, a noodle variant made of 20 percent ‘ubi tinalinting’ flour, was launched by the municipal agriculture office of Lopez, Quezon during the town’s recent 6th Pamaypayan Festival and 167th Founding Anniversary.
The development of ubi tinalinting-derived products, including ‘Pancit Lopez,’ is a milestone under the project, “Development of an S&T-based Gender-responsive and Crisis-resilient Root and Tuber Crops Value Chain through a Participatory Market Chain Approach.”
The project is led by Dr. Lorna E. Sister of the University of the Philippines Los Banos and funded by DOST Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD).
Sister said ‘ubi tinalinting,’ scientifically known as Dioscorea rotundata subsp. cayanensis, is an indigenous and underutilized crop in Quezon.
She said through partnerships with the Lopez LGU and Quezon Department of Trade and Industry, the project has created an inclusive, gender-responsive, and public institutions-led value chain for ‘ubi tinalinting.’
The products have already penetrated local markets and product improvement is expected. Lopez processors hope to replicate the success in Dauis, Bohol accomplished in the initial phase of the project.
During the launching, Lopez Mayor Rachel Ubana expressed gratitude to PCAARRD for the strong support to their farmers, noodle and flour processors, and livelihood groups.
Showing the LGU’s appreciation, a plaque was awarded to PCAARRD received by Gender and Development and Special Projects Unit Head Annette M. Tobias.
In her acceptance speech representing PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, she said that the council has always supported developing technologies and innovation that positively impact the lives of women and men in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector.
She said the council supports the sustainable utilization of the indigenous root and tuber crop, ubi tinalinting, in Lopez, Quezon.
Members of the Lopez Federation of Rural Improvement Club who are primarily involved in ‘Pancit Lopez’ production see good prospects for their livelihood because of the project.