DOST upgrades 69 projects in entrepreneurs program

By Carlito C. Dar

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- - The Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera regional office assisted 69 entrepreneural undertakings in the region under its small enterprise technology upgrading program or SETUP program in 2016.

DOST regional director Victor Mariano, in recent media forum said from target of 55 micro, small and medium enterprises(SMEs),  the agency  provided technology upgrading/transfer under SETUP to 69 MSMEs involving almost P57 million in proposal grants.

Twenty one SETUP core projects were approved for Mountain Province, 14 in Kalinga, 10 each in Apayao and Ifugao, nine in Benguet and 5 in Abra, Mariano said. Five other proposals from Abra are on – going processing, he added.

SETUP is among flagship programs of DOES that aims to boost the productivity and competitiveness of the entrepreneurial undertakings of MSMEs, and provide employment opportunities to others as the program grantees move on to expanding their respective businesses.    

For SETUP Core projects, MSMEs are offered loans with no interest and payable within three years. Preference project proposals are those in the priority industries namely food processing, furniture, GHDs (gifts, housewares, decors), marine and aquatic resources, horticulture and agriculture, metals and engineering, health products and pharmaceuticals, and ICT (Information Communication Technology) and Electronics.

Aside from the SETUP Core projects, Mariano also disclosed that the DOST also provides non – core projects  that involve technology transfer or equipment grants that aim to boost community - based livelihood programs  of local government units, non-government organizations and other civil society organizations so that through Science, Technology and Innovations, development can also be felt down at the community level.

For 2016, the actual accomplishment was 55 approved projects in different parts of Cordillera.