TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) for this year released some P8.8 million to upgrade the technology application of some 25 small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Eastern Visayas.

DoST 8 director Edgardo Esperancilla said the number of assisted entrepreneurs exceeded the agency’s 20 target set at the start of 2011.

“Many of these assisted projects address productivity needs of community-based enterprises in order to create more job opportunities,” Director Esperancilla informed local media.

The assistance is centered on SMEs engaged in furniture making, food processing, farm-based products, and handicrafts making. Forms of assistance included upgrading of facilities, adoption of DoST-developed technologies, innovation support, and provision of equipments.

Among the assisted SMEs this year are citronella oil processing facility in Biliran, Biliran; coconut wine processor in Palo, Leyte; handicrafts production facility in Kawayan, Biliran; coco-vinegar maker in Salcedo, Eastern Samar; feed mill plant in San Juan, Southern Leyte; calamansi juice concentrate processor in Guiuan, Eastern Samar; cheese sticks producer in Hilongos, Leyte; meat processing center in Guiuan, Eastern Samar; charcoal briquettes processor in Sogod, Southern Leyte; and copra drying and accelerated vinegar production center in Basey, Samar.

Also included in the list are a meat shop and processing center in Bontoc, Southern Leyte; vegetable-based breads and squash canton noodles maker in Calbayog City; suman (Balintawak) processing facility in Naval Biliran; nutritious food baker in Bato, Leyte; chocolate-based products maker in Bobon, Northern Samar; sweets and desserts producer in Catbalogan City; upgrading of pastry production facility in Kawayan, Biliran; bakeshop in Calbiga, Samar; veggie enriched bread maker in Capoocan, Leyte; delicacies packaging in Borongan City; marine products processor in Macrohon, Southern Leyte; noodles production in Catbalogan City; food products improvement in Almeria Biliran; and soy sauce processing in Tacloban City.

The national government this year set aside P300 million to finance the implementation of Small Entrepreneurs Technology Upgrading Program (Setup), a nationwide program designed to upgrade productivity of SMEs through technology application.

The program enables firms to address their technical problems through technology transfer and technological interventions to improve productivity through better product quality, human resources development, cost minimization and waste management, and other operation-related activities, Esperancilla said.

Beneficiaries under Setup may be a company or individual firm based in the Philippines and wholly owned by Filipino citizens, small and medium scale business firm that can be classified under the identified priority sectors, and individual firm that is agreeable in applying technological improvements in their existing operations.