uebhanyashuang

Davao City (20 May) -- Seeing how bananas make millions in profit, a number of women that formed the Council of Women in Tagum City, Davao del Norte then thought of another way to make millions out of the bananas all over the province.Leaving the fresh banana business to the large export companies, the group then settled on the by-products of the said crop – processed banana chips.Rooted from a feminine term, the "Byaneng" banana chips then started finding its niche in the local market. However, due to the big possibility of gaining international buyers, makers of the said product then suited the taste and mixtures to the preference of foreign buyers especially the Singaporeans, Chinese, and Japanese.Not just an ordinary business owned by a single person, but Byaneng is the latest offering of Tagum City which is handled and worked for by hardworking women in Tagum.The group was led by Tagum City first lady Alma Uy who is a known, business-oriented personality that hopes to uplift the economic status other women.Council of Women Board of Director Dina Lopez narrated that it was the idea of Uy that pushed the group to start on something which is very ambitious."Ma'am Alma Uy helped us to understand and appreciate the world of business and so everyday is a learning experience for us," Lopez said.The banana chips product has been helping plenty of women who work on different shifts just to handle the packaging of the product.The Four Seasons Company, on the other hand, assists the group in the processing of the banana chips in such a way that the taste will be loved by both local and foreign buyers.Byaneng banana chips are already distributed and displayed in leading Tagum and Davao malls such as SM Davao, NCCC malls, some department stores in Manila, and selected schools in the Davao Region."We are so young in the industry but with how buyers reacted to our product made us believe that there is a big market for us both local and international," Lopez said.Recently, Uy also brought along some member of the Council of Women in Singapore to present and exhibit the Byaneng products in a trade exhibit held there."Singaporeans loved the taste (not so sweet) and so they told us that we might start a business deal very soon," she said.Exploring other potential business aspects, the Council of Women also ventured on vinegar products, peanut butter, and bangus sardines.Uy envisions an empowered women's group in Tagum City by providing them the business knowledge and opportunities that they could bank on as they start their business. (PIA)