Department of Science and Technology’s MIMAROPA STARS, a completion of success stories of Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP)-assisted and community-based projects in the region, was launched on Friday along with the celebration of the Regional Science and Technology Week.
DOST regional director Josefina Abilay said during the launching ceremony at a hotel here MIMAROPA STARS is a newsletter that tells each of the stories of 30 different Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Community-based Enterprises (CBEs) from the region, including five in Palawan.
She said that the stories emphasize the importance of technology not only in education, environment, and other aspects but also in empowering people by using science in business.
Each province in MIMAROPA has its own newsletter, she said.
“The stories of the people showed the risk of exploiting the great potentials of introducing science, technology, and innovation in their businesses. It showed how fostering innovations led to improved quality of products, processes, and services that contributed to the growth of the employment opportunities,” Abilay said.
Among the success stories through science is Nurunutan Y ang Manegbila na Tagbanua Tong Barangay Pical in Linapacan, a cooperative funded by the DOST to turn cashew into cash.
They were trained in processing cashew nuts into delectable snacks, such as roasted, salted and cashew bandi coated with caramelized red or muscovado sugar.
With the equipment provided such as the cashew processor, the group was able to produce 60 kilograms of processed cashew in January this year.
Bambuhay handicrafts in Busuanga town also served as the livelihood of the residents when super typhoon Yolanda brought destruction in 2013.
A group of bamboo weavers showed their resilience as they revive the dying bamboo into handcrafted items.
In Puerto Princesa City, Abilay said the DOST also contributed to Palaweño Brewery by providing three units of three barrel-capacity brewing systems that led to more than 300 percent productivity.
The innovative intervention was implemented through its flagship program such as the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST).
“We are happy to introduce the MIMAROPA Stars where stories collated to encourage our readers to seek innovative solutions to seize opportunities and mitigate risks that emerge from major transformations in the economy and society,” Abilay added.
