DOST offers technology upgrading assistance to local entrepreneurs

 

DAGUPAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has called on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Pangasinan to take advantage of its funding assistance to improve their business.

Provincial Director Felicidad Gan of DOST-Pangasinan said the agency has established the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) to facilitate science and technology interventions for MSMEs to boost their productivity and competitiveness.

“For this year, at least 24 MSMEs in the province are set to benefit from the DOST’s SETUP assistance,” Gan said during the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Pangasinan recently.

She said the program focuses on assistance to various sectors such as food processing; furniture; gifts, housewares, decors; marine and aquatic resources; horticulture and agriculture; metals and engineering; health products and services/pharmaceuticals; information and communication technology (ICT) and electronics.

“Aside from financial help, the DOST also provides technical help on product manufacturing, packaging and up to market placement, to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the enterprise,” she added.

Gan said that any micro, small and medium scale business firm willing to apply technological innovations to their existing products, services and/or operations can apply for the SETUP assistance to the nearest DOST regional or field offices in their area.

In a statement, DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro said the SETUP assists 3,000 small enterprises responsible for creating 115,000 new sustainable jobs for the last five years.

“Jobs were created because of improved capacity of the enterprises. From 2010 up to June 2015, the DOST gave funding assistance of P2.2 billion for 29,401 technology interventions. This is payable in up to five years, zero-interest,” Liboro said. (VHS/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan)