Tale of Crispy Success: Cotabato Students’ Fave Taro Chips Now Boarding For Manila

120 packs of Pagdato’s taro chips from North Cotabato have been delivered to Manila. Photo from: Rachel Faith Pagdato.

Who would have thought that more than a hundred packs of chips made from a starchy root vegetable from Mindanao bound for delivery to Manila buyers came from the enterprising idea of a student? These taro chips manufactured in Banisilan, North Cotabato, have reached markets in provinces and cities in Mindanao, and now the National Capital Region.

The Taro Chips production of the Pagdato family, located near the highway village of Purok Matinabangon, Malinao, Banisilan, Cotabato, became an instant hit in town.

The snack made from the nutritious taro plant immediately gained a reputation as crunchy and flavorful chips that students can afford to buy.

Rachel Faith Pagdato shared with Good News Pilipinas how the business started in 2023.

When the family farm had an unsold harvest of taro crops, the budding entrepreneur and her father took the root crops and turned them profitable as snacks, complementing their banana chips.

Her family began their small taro chips venture selling the snack to senior high school students of Malinao High School.

Since the students found the taro chips tasty, the family started selling the snacks in front of the school.

“Nag-start siya tungod sa damo kami taro o palawan sa uma and dili man namon makaya i-consume lang amo naka huna huna si papa nga i-chips kay timing ga luto kami banana chips sato baligya sa students kay atbang lang man ka school ya balay. Nagpa free taste kami then nagustuhan man sang students,” Rachel shared.

(“Our taro chips business started because we had a lot of taro crops on the farm, and we couldn’t consume it all. That’s when my father thought of making chips since we were also selling banana chips for students because our house was just in front of the school. We gave out free samples, and the students liked them.”)

When the farm’s supply of taro could no longer cover the demand for the snack product, Rachel’s family imported stocks from different barangays and helped local farmers by buying sacks of taro.

“Dati sa uma lang, hangtod naubos na amon stock, ga angkat na kami from different barangays. Hangtod naka help nakami sad saiban tao specially tong time na ting init, mga tao kay ga lakaw lang sa balay para mag deliver,” the young entrepreneur added.

(“At first, we only used what was available on the farm. When our stock ran out, we started sourcing from different barangays. Eventually, we were able to help other people, especially during the dry season, as they would come to our house to make deliveries.”)

During school days, the Pagdato family produces over 300 small packs of taro chips. They also deliver hundreds of packs monthly to various locations such as Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental or Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and Davao City in Mindanao.

The Pagdato Family’s Taro Chips are marketed under the Dodong Food Products brand:

Recently, a shipment of 120 packs of taro chips was scheduled to be delivered to the capital, marking a significant milestone for the family’s food business.

Taro, locally known as “palawan”, “palaw” or “payaw”, is an easily grown root crop in the country. It is rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, despite its natural abundance in wet areas and farmlands, similar to gabi, its market demand and economic value remain significantly lower when compared to other commercially cultivated vegetables.

From a good school snack to a sought-after product in Manila, the Pagdato Family’s taro chips business is truly remarkable and embodies the humble success a family can achieve through startup ventures.

More success stories of farming communities include Cagayan Valley pineapple farmers reaching markets beyond their province and Nueva Ecija’s rice farmers learning sustainability practices.

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