Five entrepreneurs from Negros Oriental pitched their project proposals amounting to a total of more than P2 million, and secured initial approval from the Department of Science & Technology VII to avail of the agency’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program.
Maria Delgie Pepino of Delg Chorizo & Homemade Food Retailing, Tedoro Duhaylungsod of the Nangka Agrarian Reform Farmers Cooperative, Leonida Martinez of Cassy & Hannah Store, Roberto Gemina Jr. of Rajey Furniture, and Jovencio Ba-ay of JAB Handy Craft presented their project proposals before the DOST VII Regional Technical Evaluation Committee.
The RTEC panel was composed of DOST VII Assistant Regional Director Engr. Jesus Zamora Jr., Supervising Science Research Specialist Engr. Samuel Parcon, and two external evaluators Lourdes Damazo of International Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Foundation, and Ruby Salutan of Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc.
Pepino of Delg Chorizo & Homemade Food in Canlaon City pitched her project proposal to upgrade her meat processing technologies.
The Nangka Farmers Cooperative in Bayawan City proposed to upgrade their rice drying and milling technologies.
Gemina of Rajey Furniture in Tanjay City presented his project proposal to upgrade his furniture-making technologies.
Ba-ay of JAB Handy Craft in Amlan defended his project proposal to upgrade his processing technologies on bamboo.
The DOST VII RTEC endorsed their project proposals for approval and funding subject to submission of final proposals incorporating the recommended revisions.
When approved, a Memorandum of Agreement will be drafted and signed by the proponent, DOST Negros Oriental and DOST VII.
DOST VII through DOST Negros Oriental will then turnover the assistance to the proponents the funding.
DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program is a nationwide strategy encouraging and assisting micro, small and medium enterprises to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, services, operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness. (DOST PR)