DOST-CAR continues with its initiatives to pursue new partnerships with fourteen (14) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and stakeholders in the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao and Kalinga through signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) in separate events last week.
In Kalinga, PSTC-Kalinga, headed by OIC-PSTD-Kalinga Dexy M. Catacutan signed MOAs with five SETUP-assisted firms: (1) Skidmarks Tires and Auto Supply, (2) Kalinga Mountain Food Products, (3) Parway’s (4) Handicrafts Manufacturing, and (5) EJ Food Products on February 1, 2022. Similarly, the S&T interventions through the MOAs with the respective adoptors are provision of production equipment and technology trainings.
Further, staff from the PSTC-Kalinga organized a whole-day training on Fruit Wine Processing at the Awichon Village in the town of Lubuagan, Kalinga on January 22, 2022. Eighteen (18) members of the beneficiary group Kalasag Farmers and Irrigators Association (KFIA) actively participated in the activity. Other interventions for the community-based project include provision of wine processing tools and packaging materials, product label design and product laboratory analyses.
In Abra, a SETUP project was initiated through a MOA-signing activity headed by PSTD-Abra Engr. Ralf B. Sapi-il, on February 1, 2022. Under the agreement, Pablo’s Bakeshop in Licuan-Baay Abra will be provided production equipment relevant capacity-building trainings to help increase their productivity and competitiveness, among others.
Meanwhile, PSTC-Ifugao, led by PSTD-Ifugao Engr. Genna B. Jallorina, held a MOA-signing event with SETUP adoptor Tonton’s Iron Works and Welding in Lamut, Ifugao on February 1, 2022 for provision of equipment and related trainings for the member-beneficiary group to help make their operations and production more efficient.
In a face-to-face MOA signing event on February 3, 2022 at the Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant in Baguio City, eight ( 8 ) MSME-beneficiaries under SETUP in Benguet (5) and Baguio City (3) will be started.
In her message, DOST-CAR Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog thanked the MSMEs for availing the services of DOST-CAR in building up their businesses, inspiring the new DOST-CAR cooperators by highlighting the role of MSMEs in nation building especially in areas of inclusive and sustainable economy.
Provincial S&T Center-Benguet Director Dr. Sheila Marie B. Singa-Claver and DOST-CAR Assistant Regional Director for Field Operations Engr. Angel L. Maguen were also on hand to express their support and encouragement to the MSMEs to avail of the DOST services under the SETUP program, which has a total approved funding of P5.13 million.
Meanwhile, Mr. Elmer Macalingay, a seasoned business owner (Health 100 Restoreant) and multiple BEST SETUP Adoptor awardee, related his journey as a starting entrepreneur to the S&T interventions that helped pave the way in improving their company’s operations and production.
To help them boost the firms’ competitiveness and stand out in the market, DOST-CAR Science Research Analyst Mr. Ramiel L. Lagaban, presented the packaging, labeling and design services of the DOST-CAR’s Packaging Innovation Center.
The MSME-beneficiaries, represented by Tom Christian Lomas-e, President of Emma’s Special Food Manufacturing – One Person Corporation (OPC), extended their gratitude to DOST for giving them S&T opportunities for their business to grow.
The following are the SETUP cooperators in Baguio City and Benguet for CY 2022: N.P. Milo Machine Shop, Tereeque Food Products, Agreach Products Corp., Uptown Iron Works, Gaewen Vegetable Farm, Denden’s Furniture and Handicraft, Emma’s Special Food Manufacturing, and Veckamps Printing Press.**
