GOVPH

_{DOST Bukidnon officially turnovers the Hydrosteam Distilling equipment for the citronella facility to the Local Government Unit of Talakag and to the beneficiary, Power Alternative Agenda in Mindanao, Inc. (PALAG-Mindanao, Inc.) on December 20, 2022 at itio Kalapat, Barangay Tagbak, Talakag, Bukidnon}

To widen the economic opportunities in Barangay Tagbak, Talakag, Bukidnon, the Department of Science and Technology establishes a citronella facility in one of its remote areas, Sitio Kalapat. In partnership with the Local Government Unit, around 15 Talaandig families are now capable of producing their own citronella oil from their own extensive citronella plantation.

The Talaandig Community in Sitio Kalapat, Barangay Tagbak, Talakag, Bukidnon through their organization, Power Alternative Agenda in Mindanao, Inc. (PALAG-Mindanao, Inc.) will manage the citronella facility, featuring the newly installed Citronella Oil Processing through Hydrosteam Distillation.

Citronella oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves and stems of two grass varieties of the citronella grass. The oil is used abundantly as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol. These chemicals are in high demand as an ingredient in soap, candles and incense, perfumery, cosmetic, and flavoring industries in the Philippines and abroad. 

DOST intervention comes with equipment, user-guide training, product development, business, and organizational management, and market-matching opportunities. 

Aside from the technology, included in the project is the testing to check the quality of the oil at the DOST Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) laboratory.

_{: On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Rodrigo V. Gargar, president of PALAG Mindanao Inc.,  expresses his gratitude to DOST-10 for the citronella equipment granted to their group.during the turnover ceremony on December 20, 2022.}

After the installation in December 2022, the farmers are now waiting for the results of the laboratory testing and will resume their production this February.

_{LGU Talakag Municipal Administrator Mr. Alberto Bigcas expresses his support to this new endeavor for the Talaandig families in Sitio Tagbak and committed more support during the turnover ceremony on December 20, 2022.}

During the turnover of citronella equipment, together with the beneficiaries are representatives of the Local Government Unit of Talakag. They have expressed their gratitude and support to the project. "We are thankful to DOST for bringing an opportunity to develop the economic growth of the LGU through this new entrepreneurship form citronella processing”, said Alberto Bigcas, municipal administrator.

DOST Bukidnon Provincial Director Ritchie Mae L. Guno also emphasized that to attain sustainable development, upgrading human capital is very important. 

This project was made possible through the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program implemented by DOST Bukidnon. This is the second citronella project in the province spearheaded by DOST for the year 2022.

This is the second citronella extraction project established through DOST-CEST. The first is in Sitio Impahanong, Barangay San Luis, Malitbog, Bukidnon. Both will supply their products to the institutional buyers that produce commercial insect repellants and skin care products. (Jenifer O. Pancho/DOST Bukidnon)