By Freddie Lazaro
PIDDIG, Ilocos Norte – Like most Filipinos, Freddie T. Usita went overseas in search of greener pastures. But not all grass is green beyond Philippines shores.
“There’s no need to go abroad to apply the skills you learn from TESDA to earn a living because the opportunity to earn better income is here in our country. We only need patience and perseverance,”Freddie, now 50, shared.
Freddie T. Usita
(MANILA BULLETIN) He worked as a welder in Taiwan but was laid off when the company transferred to China. Back home, he ventured from one livelihood project to another. He tried quail production but he failed due to insufficient knowledge and management. He tried backyard mushroom production but failed again because of lack of knowledge. Freddie learned the proper way to grow mushrooms from tissue culture, creating spawns, producing fruiting bags to managing the business when he took up Horticulture NC II at the Marcos Agro-Industrial School, a TESDA Technology Institution (TTI) in Marcos, Ilocos Norte. A friend told him about the many opportunities that are available at TESDA and he was not disappointed. All tech-voc graduates in courses covered by training regulations are required to undergo mandatory assessment of TESDA and those who demonstrate competence are certified and issued a National Certificate (NC). After graduation, Freddie immediately organized his mushroom farm and applied what he learned from TESDA. This time he was successful. “It took a lot of effort and hard work for me to be able to pursue my dream Mushroom farm,” Freddie admitted. He now owns the Usita Mushroom Farm here growing white and grey oyster mushrooms and supplies cultured mushroom in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan. Today, Freddie and his wife, May earn an average net income of P27,500.00 a month from their mushroom business. To augment his income, he produces mushroom fruiting bags which he sells at P20 a piece. “All wasted mushroom fruiting bags after the four-month of production period were decomposed as organic fertilizer and also utilized for vermicomposting of organic fertilizer,” said Freddie. From growing mushrooms, Freddie was able to improve his lot. He was able to buy a piece of land, a vehicle, and send his two children to reputable schools in Ilocos Norte. His farm now generates jobs. Because of his success, Freddie was named one of the Idols of TESDA in 2016. He urged those who cannot afford to take a degree course to take advantage of TESDA’s short-term courses and skills training to help them fulfill their dreams of a better life. “As my way of paying forward, I teach poor but deserving students from different schools in the Ilocos region and in Cagayan province to help them improve their lives,” he added. Freddie encourages mushroom production for its health benefits. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin B, copper, potassium and help reduce blood pressure, moderate blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, enhance the immune system, reduce stress and helps fight certain types of cancer.
Freddie T. Usita(MANILA BULLETIN) He worked as a welder in Taiwan but was laid off when the company transferred to China. Back home, he ventured from one livelihood project to another. He tried quail production but he failed due to insufficient knowledge and management. He tried backyard mushroom production but failed again because of lack of knowledge. Freddie learned the proper way to grow mushrooms from tissue culture, creating spawns, producing fruiting bags to managing the business when he took up Horticulture NC II at the Marcos Agro-Industrial School, a TESDA Technology Institution (TTI) in Marcos, Ilocos Norte. A friend told him about the many opportunities that are available at TESDA and he was not disappointed. All tech-voc graduates in courses covered by training regulations are required to undergo mandatory assessment of TESDA and those who demonstrate competence are certified and issued a National Certificate (NC). After graduation, Freddie immediately organized his mushroom farm and applied what he learned from TESDA. This time he was successful. “It took a lot of effort and hard work for me to be able to pursue my dream Mushroom farm,” Freddie admitted. He now owns the Usita Mushroom Farm here growing white and grey oyster mushrooms and supplies cultured mushroom in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan. Today, Freddie and his wife, May earn an average net income of P27,500.00 a month from their mushroom business. To augment his income, he produces mushroom fruiting bags which he sells at P20 a piece. “All wasted mushroom fruiting bags after the four-month of production period were decomposed as organic fertilizer and also utilized for vermicomposting of organic fertilizer,” said Freddie. From growing mushrooms, Freddie was able to improve his lot. He was able to buy a piece of land, a vehicle, and send his two children to reputable schools in Ilocos Norte. His farm now generates jobs. Because of his success, Freddie was named one of the Idols of TESDA in 2016. He urged those who cannot afford to take a degree course to take advantage of TESDA’s short-term courses and skills training to help them fulfill their dreams of a better life. “As my way of paying forward, I teach poor but deserving students from different schools in the Ilocos region and in Cagayan province to help them improve their lives,” he added. Freddie encourages mushroom production for its health benefits. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin B, copper, potassium and help reduce blood pressure, moderate blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, enhance the immune system, reduce stress and helps fight certain types of cancer.