Balikutsa, ibinida ng Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur sa Philippine Experience Caravan ng DOT
Balikutsa, ibinida ng Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur sa Philippine Experience Caravan ng DOT
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00:00 Aside from the beautiful scenery, let's taste the product of Ilocos Sur, which is called Balikotcha.
00:10 Rod Laguzan will be back.
00:13 Part of the Philippine Experience Program, the Department of Tourism, is known for its not yet famous tourist destinations.
00:21 The product comes from here.
00:23 In the town of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, there are farms that are the main livelihood of the residents.
00:29 And from here, Balikotcha is the local version of candy that serves as a sweetener or alternative to the usual sugar.
00:36 There is a cooperative here where they run and earn money by making Balikotcha.
00:46 It is raised by middlemen, by businessmen here in Ilocos and other regions.
00:52 Through the sale of Balikotcha, it will help the livelihood of each family here in the North.
01:02 But how is it made?
01:04 Using this tractor, it is turned into a traditional sugarcane crusher to extract the juice of the fruit.
01:11 It is cooked for more than 2 hours.
01:13 It is placed in a jar to cool and caramelize.
01:17 Making Balikotcha is a big help for the residents of Santa Maria.
01:22 Along with the process, it needs to be ground until it becomes hard and white.
01:28 From there, it needs to be ground.
01:30 This is the shape that needs to be rolled.
01:32 It takes 2 to 3 days to roll it.
01:35 After that, this is the finished product and you can use it for your coffee.
01:40 It can also be used for other products that need sweetness.
01:43 Balikotcha, this crop, is a big help to our family.
01:49 This is where all of our children's education comes from.
01:54 It is a big help for our daily needs.
01:58 Like me, I also have a small house.
02:03 I have a house that is already finished and I have a car that is being built.
02:10 All of that is from sugarcane.
02:13 The main product they grow is the vinegar from the tree.
02:17 It goes through fermentation and is placed in the water for up to 3 months.
02:22 There is also a muscovado, a fermenting agent, like banana q, but it does not contain any chemical.
02:27 LGU is also happy with the promotion of products and the regular training for farmers.
02:32 In the production of balikotcha, we provide them with fertilizers.
02:37 Last week, we gave a unit of tractor to the farmers.
02:44 LGU plans to have a showroom for local products.
02:47 While continuing to work with Dole and DTI to maintain this industry.
02:51 In the Department of Tourism, it also gives the importance of tourism.
02:55 According to Secretary Christina Frasco, tourism is the top 2 economic driver in the country.
03:00 It has employed over 5.35 million Filipinos and their families.
03:05 And it continues to bring opportunities to communities nationwide.
03:09 But it is really incumbent upon the national government to ensure that tourism development is not focused on certain destinations alone, but rather is spread throughout.
03:20 According to the Department of Tourism, it will help a lot to have travel and tourism packages in different places in the country, like in the town of Santa Maria.
03:28 Rod Laguzad for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
03:32 Peace.