PASAY CITY, Metro Manila – – Assisted MSME and community of the Department of Science and Technology- Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) were named as the national winners for Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) PRAISE Award and Best Community Enhancement through Science and Technology (CEST) Community Award on 24 November 2022 at the Word Trade Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila.
The DOST-CAR Regional Best SETUP Adoptor, the JLM Farms owned by Mr. Johnny L. Marcos, was conferred as the national winner for 2022 SETUP PRAISE Award. The recognition is awarded to outstanding MSME who excels in managing and sustaining their business in terms of Productivity, Resilience, Agility, Innovativeness, Sustainability and Excellence (PRAISE). The firm was likewise conferred the “Sustainability” Award during the awarding ceremony.
In 2015, the JLM Farm sought DOST’s assistance to upgrade its manual watering system to Drip Irrigation System and in 2018, the Drip Irrigation System was further upgraded with automatic controller. Through the assistance, the firm improved its productivity and product quality through precise, automated watering and fertilizer application system.
The other SETUP national winners were the FilBake Food Corporation from Region VI for the Most Industry Ready or iReady Award and the ACT Machineries and Metal Craft Corporation of Region II as ICON Awardee.
According to DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, the awarding is one of DOST’s ways in celebrating resilience and excellence of DOST-assisted MSMEs through the years.
In his keynote message, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. hoped that the winners will be an inspiration to other MSMEs. “I urge you to unleash your creativity; do not just think out of the box, rather, break the box. Let us not be content with our laurels, let us innovate, collaborate and keep the fire in your synergies,” he added.
SETUP is the DOST banner program which aims to strengthen the country’s innovation system by enabling MSMEs to address their technological requirements and limitations to improve productivity.
Meanwhile, the national winner for 2022 Best CEST Community Award is the LGU Tublay headed by Mayor Armando Lauro. The Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Barangay (SAMAKABA) from Region VII clinched the 2nd place and LGU Gabaldon of Region III placed first runner up.
DOST-CAR has provided S&T interventions as early as 2013 thru the provision of community-based projects (CBPs) in Tublay, Benguet. Currently, there are total of five (5) CBPs in the municipality benefitting various organizations which include the Country Side Rainbow Association (CSRA), Ambongdolan Multi-Purpose Livelihood, Inc. (AMLI), Togoy Farmer’s Cooperative, Solo Parents of Ambassador Tublay, Association of Persons with Disabilities of Tublay (APWDT), among others.
The CEST program aims to improve the standard of living of the economically challenged communities through its five (5) entry points namely (1) economic development, (2) health and nutrition, (3) environmental protection and conservation, (4) human resource development, and (5) disaster risk reduction and climate mitigation.
The national winners were accompanied by the DOST-CAR Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog and DOST-Benguet PSTD Dr. Sheila Marie Singa-Claver during the awarding led by Secretary Solidum, Former Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Pena, and USec. Mabborang.
The JLM farms received plaque of recognition, PhP50,000.00 cash prize as one of the finalists, and Php100,000.00 as the national winner while the LGU-Tublay received a plaque of recognition and PhP 200,000.00 cash prize.
“May all the DOST regional and provincial offices set an inspiration to drive us to empower more lives especially disadvantage communities” emphasized by Secretary Solidum during his keynote message.
“Now with our new direction or battle cry #OneDOST4U, we continue to advocate utilization and transfer of available technologies from the research and development institutions down to the local government unit, communities, and industries,” USec. Mabborang asserted.
The awarding was part of the 2022 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), an annual celebration of STI’s contributions to national development and a DOST platform in heralding S&T advocacy in the country.