By: DAISY D. SIMON- DOST-Quirino,Diffun, Quirino, February 5—- A team headed by Ms. Janette Puerto from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Countryside Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has recently visited five (5) SET-UP projects in the of Quirino last February 4, 2016.

The first stop of the project visit was at EKS Bakeshop and Snack House at Dipantan, Nagtipunan, Quirino. The project was under the 2013 SETUP project of the province. It was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Edmund and Dina Suguitan. The firm was into veggie loaf and other bread production. The company was once awarded by different National and Local Agencies as the cleanest bakery in Quirino.

Next stop was at Nobelane Furniture Shop, a 2012 SET-UP project. The project was already graduated from SET-UP last November, 2012 since the proponent already paid the assistance. This was owned and managed by Mr. and Mrs. Noe and Febe Maria Valdez. The project was located at Poblacion Norte, Maddela, Quirino. During the visit, the owners signified their intention of availing the second round of SET-UP assistance.

After Nobelane, the team proceeds to another project in Maddela, the Ailyn Wood Crafts and Furniture Shop at Villa Norte, Maddela. The project was under the 2014 SETUP of the province and was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ronalyn Floren. The product of the firm was wooden jars/vases in different sizes. The products are one of a kind and with good quality and craftsmanship thus, the firm was the only producers/manufacturer of the said product in the province.

Then, they moved to the next project the Lovely Princess Ricemill at San Francisco, Aglipay, Quirino another 2013 SETUP project of DOST-Quirino. This company was into rice milling. One of the DOST intervention to the company was the brown rice production. This was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Juanito Opido.

Last stop of the project visit was at Watah! H2O Purified Water Station at Andres Bonifacio, Diffun, Quirino. This water station was the first in the province to produce and sell Iodine-rich water because of the Tubig Talino Technology from Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of DOST. The proponent was Ms. Eden Joy S. Cabanag.

All of the five firms availed different assistance from DOST specially provision of equipment thru Innovation System Support (ISS-SET-UP).

The visit was made to assessed the impact of the different DOST intervention to the SME’s who availed the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP).