SOME 21 graduating students of Bohol Deaf Academy are expected to undergo training on cacao processing as part of the Department of Science and Technology’s mission to empower the hearing impaired community in the province.

DOST Secretary Fortunato De La Peña said DOST-Region 7 partnered with International Deaf Education Association Philippines to train individuals on cacao processing.

“This school year’s batch of 21 graduating students at BDA shall be trained in cacao processing. The training activities shall be incorporated in their curriculum for the whole semester as part of their technical vocational electives,” he said.

He also added Technical Vocational teachers at BDA shall be trained too.

“They will be the one responsible for cascading the know-how to the next batch of students to learn the technologies,” De La Pena said.

The BDA will layout the processing facility, while DOST will provide the training and equipment.

“To develop an enterprise to anchor their livelihood activities, IDEA Philippines will create a manufacturing village for cacao near the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen, Bohol. The manufacturing village will showcase the whole processes involved in the making of chocolates from the farming stage, post-harvest, and up to creating different chocolate products,” he added.

He also hoped the proximity of the chosen area where to put the cacao manufacturing village will pave the way in creating a new sector possible as an eco-tourism site.