LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Department of Science and Technology- Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) granted more than PhP9.2 Million to upgrade twelve firms in Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet and Apayao through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) after the Memoranda of Agreement were signed recently.
From the twelve business firms, three are from Ifugao province namely Butoeg Enterprises from Alfonso Lista, and JMD Farm and Glorietta’s Sewing Shop, both from the Municipality of Lamut.
Further, there are four from Mountain Province namely Pilcorp Construction Services in Bauko, Chamtong Printing Services in Sabangan, Sagada Homemade Whole Wheat Bread House in Sagada, and Ebays Lodging also from Sagada.
More than PhP3 Million will also fund the upgrading of three firms in Baguio-Benguet and two in Apayao. The firms are Grae’s Souvenir Trading in Sablan, and Chilli Queens and You’re Invited Desktop Publishing and General Merchandise in Baguio City; and the Oandasan Poultry Farms and Moontreats Food Products in Apayao.
The fund assistance will be used to acquire additional machineries to increase production and enhance the product quality of the firms. Aside from financial assistance, the DOST-CAR, through its provincial offices, will also provide technical services like Packaging and Labeling of products, laboratory analyses for food businesses, and technical consultancies in order to ensure the safety of products being produced.
SETUP is a nationwide strategy that encourages and assists the micro, small and medium enterprises to adopt technological innovations to help them increase their productivity and competitiveness as these MSMEs are recognized as substantial contributors to spur inclusive growth and economic development of the country.
The program focuses on MSMEs belonging to food processing, metals and engineering, furniture, agriculture, gifts, decors and handicrafts, health and wellness products, Information, and Communications Technology (ICT), Halal products and services, and other regional industry priorities.
By FAA