The DOST R02, through PSTC NV, assisted a total of 17 new firms in the province just this 1st semester of the year through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). Five more firms are expected to be assisted before the year ends.
“There is a rapid increase in number of firms assisted this year, from 13 to 22, because we want to level-up our support to our MSMEs for they are the major contributors in the economy of our country and in support to our Regional Director, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang goals .” remarked Engr. Jonathan R. Nuestro, Provincial Director of PSTC NV.
SETUP is a program of DOST that supports MSMEs to upgrade their production system & processes by providing and funding appropriate technologies. Funds must be repaid without interests within three years.
“Sa lahat ng nagpapahiram, ito lang po ang programa ng gobyerno na walang interest at collateral” noted Engineer Mabborang, DOST R02 Regional Director.
Firms assisted are from the different priority sectors of the agency. Six are from the Agriculture, four (4) from the Food processing, four (4) from Metals & Engineering, three (3) from Gifts, Housewares & Decors & one (1) from Furniture.
“Ang supporta ng gobyerno at ng ahensya ay hindi po titigil dito bagkus ito po ang simula ng ating pagtutulungan…” Engr. Mabborang said during one of the series of awarding conducted.
Awarding was done on monthly basis. January awardees are branded as Maginhawa batch, February: Masagana batch; March: Masigasig batch; April: Malikhain batch; May: Produktibo batch; June: Masipag batch & July awardees as Matiyaga batch. Series of awarding are done at DOST R02 Conference Hall, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
As of this semester, the total amount of innovative assistance given to the MSMEs reaches 16 million. Five million (5 M) are still expected to be disbursed before 2018 ends.
The DOST R02 thru PSTC NV will be monitoring the firms to provide further technical & technological interventions. # (FDS)