(Pixabay)
DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the agency’s science and technology (S&T) aid has been extended to Mahinog Cacao Producers Group (MCPG) in Mahinog, Camiguin.
“The MCPG is composed of 25 farmers, majority of whom are senior citizens. It established the J and R Tablea Products, producing cacao beans and tablea as a source of living for its farmer-members,” he said in a report.
He said in March this year, the DOST Region X provided assistance worth P479,570 to the MCPG for the procurement of an industrial multipurpose cacao cracker/dehuller winnower and a cacao colloid mill. The aid was made possible through the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
The DOST-NCR, through Regional Director Jose B. Patalinjug III (left), approves the first project for the Innovation Funding Phase of the Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines (iFWD PH) Program. Having completed Phase 1 or the Capability Building for the Development and Management of Technology-Based Enterprise of the iFWD PH, former overseas Filipino worker from Cambodia, Mr. Ruel Bermudez (2nd from left) establishes the Bermudez Software Development Service, which will develop web-based information technology solutions, one of which is the eBarangayPH System. (Contributed photo)
QUEZON CITY, April 8 (PIA) Amid the pandemic, through the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST’s) iFWD PH: Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines program, DOST-NCR under the leadership of DOST-NCR Jose B. Patalinjug III, provides innovation funding support to Bermudez Software Development Services, managed by former overseas Filipino worker
First-of-its-kind aquaculture facility launched in Oriental Mindoro – DOST – Manila Bulletin mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the provision of funding was made possible through the agency’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
“The DOST-1 through the SETUP Program assisted ModulHaus Incorporated of Agoo, La Union to produce its first batch of surgical masks through its innovative start-up project,” he said in a report.
He said the project was funded through SETUP, considering that it “is an innovative project and a considerable COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) initiative.”
De la Peña said the P5-million project fund was used in the purchase of one unit of Automatic Mask Making Machine and two units of Automatic Ear Tape Applier with a capacity that can produce 739,200 surgical face masks per month.
Photo by Alexandre Brondino on Unsplash.
The DOST IX reported that the Molave Agri Industrial Technology Inc. (MAITI) received assistance worth ₱2,052,000.00 through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
The assistance is expected to increase production capacity by 50 percent, enabling MAITI to keep up with the market, and improve product quality through the upgraded chocolate tempering machine, it said.
The upgraded chocolate tempering machine will be used to reduce the size of chocolate particles from 20 microns to 15 to 10 microns.
“Increased refinement results in smoother chocolate texture, translating to higher market competitiveness and value,” the DOST IX said.
Currently, MAITI employs batch-type processing equipment that is only capable of producing 15 kilograms of chocolates per week, falling significantly short of the existing 40 to 50-kilogram customer demand, it noted.