July 7-9, 2026 | Alilem, Ilocos Sur

Anchored on the theme “LAGA: Weaving Local Skills for Sustainable Entrepreneurship,” the Food Science Research and Innovation Center (FSRIC) and the College of Home Economics and Technology (CHET) of Benguet State University (BSU) successfully conducted the three-day Knowledge Advancement for Entrepreneurial Readiness and Empowerment Pathways (KA-EntREP) extension activity for the members of the Liblibo Singa Farmers Organization (LSFO) at Alilem, Ilocos Sur, from July 7 to 9, 2026.

The training enhanced participants’ entrepreneurial competencies through sessions on leveling and expectations, entrepreneurial mindsetting, product innovation, costing and pricing, branding, and digital marketing. Result of the premarket assessment was also presented to identify product opportunities and potential market linkages that could increase the value and competitiveness of LSFO’s bamboo products.

As key outputs, participants developed market-oriented bamboo products, including miniature baskets, bamboo wine holders, bilao, enhanced pasiking sling, and mugs with bamboo as handle insulation, while gaining practical knowledge to improve product value and market competitiveness. The activity also resulted in the introduction of the organization’s Facebook page and logo to strengthen its digital presence and product promotion.

Implemented as part of BSU’s extension initiatives, the KA-EntREP activity is under the project “Organizational Growth and Business Outgrowth for People’s Organizations and Farmers’ Associations” of the “Sustainable and Inclusive Peace and Transformation (SIPAT) Program Phase II: Capacity Building and Extension Program.” This initiative supports the long-term empowerment of people’s organizations by strengthening enterprise capabilities and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Moving forward, BSU will continue to provide technical assistance through product enhancement, market linkage facilitation, digital marketing support, and enterprise mentoring to help LSFO sustain and expand its bamboo weaving enterprise.