LAOAG CITY—Garlic and binakol, also called abel (loom weaving), are two of Ilocos Norte’s “hidden” treasures that are making a headway in the export business.

Five years ago, Sally Ganal, 46, of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, was a plain housewife, tending to her four children. The family’s source of livelihood greatly depended on her husband’s salary as a construction worker.

Life could have been financially trying for the Ganal family, but thanks to free livelihood training from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Ganal with other housewives like Rowena Ganitano, 41, and Carita Ganitano, 45, participated in livelihood training and honed their skills in sewing.

In 2004 the Sarrat Binakol Association (SBA), composed of at least 27 active members, was formed to promote binakol.

Loom weaving in Sarrat town has been existent in the municipality for years, but was only concentrated in weaving blankets and pillow cases.

With the fusion of Ilocano creativity and artistry, Ganal said their product line has transformed to other craft innovations. These include accessories, gift items and souvenirs useful for students and in offices. Among the best-selling products of the SBA include tote bags, vanity sets, pencil cases, envelopes, sun visors and leis.

The local government unit of Sarrat, in cooperation with the Tesda and the DTI, granted a minimum funding assistance of P20,000 as a start-up capital to buy raw materials and loom-weaving machines. Today the binakol association in Sarrat town is gaining popularity not only in provincial trade fairs, where they always join to promote their products, but also as favorite giveaways and  pasalubongs abroad. To date, bulk orders of its products made by balikbayan and foreign tourists reach as far as Singapore, Italy, Greece and Hawaii.

Meanwhile, garlic, known to some in Ilocos Norte as white gold, has found its nest in food processing, too. In Vintar town, about 280 hectares of land are planted with garlic. During harvest season, farmers’ income from garlic products is low because of the high supply.

With this as an incentive, a group of women here, locally known as the Rural Improvement Club, which included out-of-school youth, was trained by the government-owned Mariano Marcos State University-College of Technology to process garlic. They formed an association, the Siwawer Garlic Food Products Association (SGFPA), which  learned how to preserve garlic and sell them at a higher price.

Right now, the processed garlic food products in Vintar town are in demand in the local market.  Some of the products are exported to Hawaii and mainland USA, said Melda Quilala, coordinator of the women’s association here.

Quilala said the garlic food processing in Vintar town equipped with garlic peeler, slicer, mechanical dryer and a pulverizing machine is backed by the local government unit of Vintar town and the Department of Labor and Employment, giving them financial assistance for the project.

Barely three years since the group started processing garlic, the SGFPA is now the leading supplier of garlic food products, such as pickled garlic, flakes, chips, polvoron, garlic powder, pastillas and garlic cookies. The demand for their products further increased when they improved its packaging, she added.

A number of active cooperatives here, like the SBA and the SGFPA, have exhibited their crafts and products during the three-day celebration of cooperative month at the Ilocos Norte Heroes Hall from October 20 to 22.