SCI-TECH WEEK. Students from different schools in Iligan City visit the Regional Science and Technology Week on Friday (Oct. 13, 2023), hosted by the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. The RSTW ran from Oct. 11 to 13. (PNA photo by Nef Luczon)
ILIGAN CITY – Business groups here on Friday signified their support to the Department of Science and Technology in Northern Mindanao Region ((DOST-10) for the interventions and projects that help micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).
Reggie Punongbayan, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc., said DOST-10 provided opportunities to improve the MSMEs' productivity through technology inputs.
"This partnership (with DOST) showed the importance of synergy, coinciding with the Business Month celebration," she said.
Punongbayan said MSMEs received solar-powered carts for vendors and the creation of the "Iliganice" program for startups.
Elsa Mercado, president of the Iligan Bay Chamber of Industries, said DOST-10 also provided businesses with a regional context as far as environmental and economic sustainability are concerned.
She said among the DOST-10's programs that elevated the competencies of businesses is the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (Setup).
"DOST showed us that science, technology, and innovation is not just an abstract concept, through our partners it brought us to move forward (achieving actual targets)," Mercado said.
The presence of business organizations here is part of the closing ceremony of the Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW), organized by DOST-10 with Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, from Oct. 11 to 13.
DOST-10 Director Romela Ratilla said this year's RSTW drew a crowd of about 1,700 with 23 exhibitors and programmed seven forums.
She said one of the feedback they received was that the activity showed an opportunity to assist workers and improve their working conditions.
Entrepreneurs' testimonies
Rexaniel Saburnido, proprietor of Al-Kuwait Food Manufacturing based in this city, said DOST's Setup program has moved his visions forward.
He noted that in sustaining the business, there must be commitments to serve as motivations.
"Commitment matters, and gratitude in action. We are partners in progress," he said.
Saburnido was DOST's 2021 regional winner for Best Setup Adopter.
His business was food processing the traditional Meranaw dish pater (rice topped with grilled chicken or fish wrapped in banana leaves) and its spicy condiment, palapa, which started in 2013 and later became a full-blown fast food joint with branches in the city and nearby towns.
Meanwhile, this year's Best Setup Adopter goes to Heaven's Bakehaus of Lanao del Norte.
Bakeshop proprietor Marc Claro, who is also a police master sergeant, said 10 years ago the business was only a means to help a solo parent with two children.
He said they specialized in piayaya (unleavened flatbread) de Iligan and back then, cooking its filling ingredients took 45 minutes.
"Two weeks since we first opened, some of our workers resigned because of the longer preparation time for filling," he said.
When Claro availed of DOST-10's Setup, the production time lessened to two minutes through the machines bought by the agency through a loan.
Since then, Claro said they have improved their production and income. (PNA)
