BAGUIO CITY — Around 400 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Cordillera region have so far benefitted from the business upgrading program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) called Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
DOST regional director Nancy Bantog told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday the number of SETUP enterprises in the region increases by about eight enterprises per province yearly.
The SETUP aims to improve an enterprise’s existing products, services, operations, and enhance productivity and competitiveness.
“They can be assisted to help boost their productivity and competitiveness through Science and Technology Innovation (STI),” Bantog said.
For 2018, DOST has allotted PHP39 million for the implementation of the program, which includes capability training and loan for those wanting to upgrade or purchase technologies.
“In Cordillera, 50 percent of the firms that availed of the SETUP program is in the food industry, second is metals and engineering firms,” Bantog noted.
Before, the furniture industry ranked second, but with the selective harvesting of natural forests products, fewer Cordillerans are engaging in the said industry, she said.
The DOST official said SETUP as a nationwide strategy to encourage MSMEs to adopt technological innovations and develop new products and establish or sustain market niches.
Among the assistance provided under SETUP are: infusion of appropriate technologies to improve/develop products, services and/or operations; human resource training, technical assistance, and productivity consultancy services; design and execution of functional packages and labels; assistance for compliance to regulatory and market standards, including testing services; and provision of financial assistance to facilitate acquisition of appropriate technologies.
“When we do our monitoring and assessment, there is actually an increase when it comes to the volume of their sales, profit, and a reduction of production cost,” Bantog said.
She said the priority sectors under SETUP are: food processing, furniture making, gifts and decors, handicrafts; agriculture, marine, aquaculture; metals and engineering, information and communications technology (ICT); and health and wellness products.
During the Regional Science and Technology Week celebration in Apayao province on Oct. 21-25, the DOST recognized six provincial best SETUP adaptors for their successes.
These were: Noreen’s RTW in Abra, VFM food products in Apayao, JCO Bakeshop in Benguet, Mila’s Bakeshop in Ifugao, Shaquil Food Products in Kalinga, and Cora’s Bread in Mountain Province.
Bantog said as the DOST celebrates its milestone in its banner program for MSMEs, it also gives recognition to the best provincial SETUP adoptors, who use STI in improving their products.
“We are conducting SETUP fora throughout the region to further boost and find beneficiaries for the SETUP program and help them boost their productivity and competitiveness,” she said. (Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA).
