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The
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Friday
reiterated its support for micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) by assuring more collaborative ties
with other national government agencies, the local
government units and the private sector.
“We assure you that the programs of the
DOST to stimulate, promote and enhance the technological
innovation, especially of our SMEs, will be sustained
and further enhanced,” said DOST Secretary Estrella
Alabastro.
MSMEs compose nearly 98 percent of local
businesses and provide 70 percent of jobs underscoring
their significant contribution to the economy.
SCIENCE Secretary Estrella
Alabastro (seventh from left) and Science Undersecretary
Fortunato de la Peña (sixth from left) recently awarded
the outstanding technology adoptors who are among the 50
Men and Women of Science. They are (from left) Arden
Siarot, Virgilio Jose, Philip Tan, Joseph Lomibao,
Leticia Belarmino, Clemencia Padre, Victoria Wallace,
Dr. Jose Ildefonso Costales Jr. and Jose Bituin.
She made the statement during the
awarding of the 10 outstanding technology adoptors,
individuals who have grown and flourished in their
businesses through DOST assistance, as part of DOST’s 50
Men and Women of Science Awards in its celebration of
the DOST’s 50th anniversary.
“Together with other agencies,
particularly the Department and Trade and Industry
[DTI], the DOST will continue to highly involve itself
in the improving productivity of our micro, small and
medium enterprises,” Alabastro said.
A DOST-established program that the
awardees availed themselves of is the Small Enterprise
Technology Upgrading Program (Setup) which provides free
technological consulting for MSMEs.
In the sidelines of the event, Alabastro
said that Setup, established in 2002, has P200 million
set aside every year for various assistance programs
ranging from technical advice, training programs to
standardization of products to improve competitiveness.
Meanwhile, DTI Undersecretary Merle
Cruz, reading a prepared speech for DTI Secretary Peter
Favila, said despite efforts by the government in
helping MSME’s, more still needs to be done.
She cited the Barangay Micro Business
Act of 2002, which seeks to integrate informal
microenterprises with the mainstream economy through
incentives and benefits, such as income- tax exemptions
from operations and technology transfer, production and
management training, among others.
She added that to help the development
of MSME’s the President signed in May Republic Act
9501, which mandates credit institutions to allocate at
least 8 percent of their respective loan portfolios for
micro and small enterprises, and at least 2 percent for
medium enterprises.
During the event, the awardees offered
nothing but praise for the DOST’s programs.
Dr. Jose Costales Jr., a government
surgeon, said he got involved in fingerling production
through the DOST’s encouragement.
“They [DOST] provided me with the
technical know-how,” he said, “They taught me the ins
and outs of the
business.”
He currently owns and manages a
three-hectare fish farm, producing 8 million fingerlings
annually and with an annual income of P3.3 million.
“If I were to rely on my government
salary, I would not have been able to send my kids to
the college of medicine,” he added.
Another awardee: Philip Tan, president
and chief executive officer of Wellmade Motors and
Development Corp., a Cebu-based engineering company,
said he approached the DOST who gave him technological
assistance when he started his business.
He said the DOST also initially funded
them with P1 million, without interest to be paid in
five years. He added that this was “a very big help.”
He said the DOST’s support was
surprising, adding, “We thought this [DOST] was one
government agency that would give us a hard time, but it
didn’t.”
Other awardees at the event were Leticia
Belarmino, owner of Lety’s Buko Pie; Jose Bituin, owner
of Beti’s Crafts Inc.; Virgilio Jose, manager of Vjandep
Bakeshop; Joseph Lomibao, owner of J. Emmanuel Pastries;
Clemencia Padre, owner of Ilocos Food Products; Manuel
Salazar, president of Pascual Laboratories Inc.; and
Arden Siarot of Arden Classic Inc. |
