BY: THELMA C. BICARME, PIA and DAISY D.J. SIMON, DOST

CABARROGUIS, Quirino, January 17  — The Department of Science and Technology here has embarked on a series of Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) forums to orient the small and medium entrepreneurs about the program and to possibly recruit beneficiaries who will meet the requirements.

In the recent meeting of the Provincial Science and Action Group, Gov. Junie Cua has asked the different local chief executives to fast track the recruitment and identification of beneficiaries and he also asked DOST if it can accommodate more beneficiaries.

For 2014, DOST has allotted P10 million for at least 30 beneficiaries from the province.

DOST Quirino Officer-in-Charge Lucio Calimag said the project will assist priority sectors such as food processing, furniture, metals and engineering, gifts, housewares and decors (GHD), aquatic and marine, ICT and electronics as well as health products and pharmaceuticals.

Calimag stressed that to be able to avail of the non-interest loan from DOST, one must be a registered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of any of the said priority businesses and they must have mayor’s permits.

If you are interested, just visit our office at the QSU compound and present your letter of intent, business permit, DTI registration, canvass and quotation of materials and financial reports, Calimag explained.

The qualified applicants for the SETUP will be assisted in the acquisition of needed production equipment/facilities and/or technologies to improve their production efficiency. Other interventions to be provided to project beneficiaries are product labeling and packaging, technology trainings and technical consultancy services.

From 2005 to present, the program has already assisted 29 small and medium entrepreneurs in the province and invested a total amount of P18 million.

 

SETUP is a nationwide strategy encouraging and assisting SME to improve their operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness through infusion of appropriate technologies to improve operations. (TCB/PIA 2-Quirino