SETUP approves 2 new projects for Biliran

A total of PhP355,000 worth of technology upgrading assistance has been released to two (2) micro enterprises in the Province of Biliran in the 3rd quarter of 2011. The financial support include the acquisition of new equipment to improve production efficiency and production volume and improve the packaging and labeling of their products.

Winconfel Suman from Naval, Biliran would soon be acquiring improved set of equipment for the processing of glutenous rice into the popular native delicacy from Naval - the "Balintawak suman." In the otherhand, JV Bakeshop from Kansanoc, Kawayan, Biliran will be improving their process of producing the sweet otap, a sugar coated pastry popular among Cebuanos.

The financial support aims to improve the production volume of the msmes by at least 20% from their current production. This support will economically result to increase revenue and will provide employment opportunity in the locality.
(Inset Photo: wrapping of balintawak suman in anahaw leaves)

Online Rain Monitor for Biliran is on

DOST-Biliran has completed the installation of the Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) in Naval, Biliran Province. The rain gauge is located at the back of the Biliran Provincial Capitol in Calumpang, Naval, Biliran. The automatic rain gauge uses the tipping bucket to collect the amount of rain in the location and automatically send the data to a central database managed by the DOST's Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).

The instrument helps to provide a real time assessment of the amount of water absorbed by the soil and assess potential flooding or landslides. It is therefore of great help in hazard mitigation and in other use requiring precipitation data. 

The ARG deployment is part of a nationwide project implemented by the Phillipine Atmospheric, Geophysical, & Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) and ASTI. In Biliran, the Provincial Government provided support with the use of the lot and security of the unit, while DOST Regional Office No. 8 provided the materials for installation and fencing.

Protect your creations, DOST tells inventors

Aside from encouraging Eastern Visayan inventors to get creative through inventions and innovations, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 8 underscored the importance of protecting their creations through intellectual property rights.

“Protect your products first before you sell them,” advised Dr. Edgar Garcia, DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute director, to inventors and student researchers who participated in the first ever Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) at the Robinson’s Place in Tacloban City August 22-25.
Protecting inventions, said Garcia, means applying for patent or intellectual property right of an inventor’s creation or product. Securing a patent protects the inventor from duplication of the product and entitles him or her royalties when the product is sold or commercialized. Read Full story here
(from dost.gov.ph by: Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service)

Phase II of citronella project in Biliran takes off

BEOMP consultant Engr. Jesus Villamil, inspects new distilling still

Another set of new citronella oil distilling equipment is about to be used by Biliran Essential Oil Manufacturing of Brgy. Bato, Biliran, Biliran Province after DOST provided the company the second phase of financial support for technology upgrading of its processing plant.

BEOM is the first success story of the SETUP program in Biliran province when it created income opportunity to the community through employment, improvement of its product quality, and increasing the production volume, on top of other economic parameters (see related article). Above all these indicators is the successful completion of the firm's refund of the financial support provided by DOST for the Phase I of equipment acquisition. DOST provided PhP 865,000.00 for the Phase II new equipment.

The equipment is ready for testing at the fabrication site in Kananga, Leyte who is supervised by BEOM consultant Engr. Jesus Villamil. "When tests will be completed the equipment will be transported to the plant site in Brgy. Bato for on-site testing and trial operation," Mr. Jesus Doyon Sr., BEOM propriator said. The new equipment is expected to replace the old distilling unit used by the firm when its operation started. The old unit had been inefficient due to frequent bug downs and repair. With the acquisition of the new unit, cost of maintenance will be reduced and production capacity of the plant will be optimized.

The new unit will now be working side by side with the distiller purchased during the phase I of the project

Ungale Handicrafts receives DOST SETUP assistance

Another micro-entrepreneur from Biliran has received support for technology acquisition to improve its production of gifts and holiday decor products (GHD). The Ungale Handicrafts of Brgy. Ungale, Kawayan, Biliran was among the latest MSMEs who benefitted the Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of DOST.

With the package of technical assistance is a financial component for acquisition of equipment worth Eighty Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Pesos (PhP 85,250). Ungale Handicraft owner Mr. Rodito Madrideo is grateful for the support which would enable his firm to acquire new sets of heavy duty sewing machine and embroidery machine to be used in the production of various handicraft products made of local fibers such as abaca and pandan leaves.

The support in turn aims to increase the production volume of the company by 30% from current production, generate additional employment of at least 6 persons, and increase income of the SME by 20%.

DOST Biliran launches community based projects

Two community based projects were launched on April 6 and 7, 2011 in Cabucgayan and Culaba towns of Biliran Province, respectively. These projects center on application of science and technology for improvement of municipal priority products (One Municipality One Product) by providing technology training, consultancy services, packaging and labeling, and establishment of common service facility. These would redound to creation of new business opportunities that would in turn result to employment generation and creation of alternative source of income for the community.

LGU-Cabucgayan received support for the Community Project for Process and product improvement of coconut wine (bahalina) which will benefit the "tuba" gatherers, the coconut farmers, and the wine processor who are members of the Cabucgayan Corn Farmers Association. The project aims to elevate the lowly bahalina into a better packaged wine at par with imported wine products. Meanwhile, LGU Culaba, with the Culaba Papaya Producers Association received support for Establishment of Common Service Facility for Processing of Papaya. The main product, papaya pickles will be improved in terms of quality and packaging with this project.

Ms. Mae Anne D. Reyes, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Executive Director of the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Unit of the Department of Science and Technology VIII, represented Engr. Edgardo M. Esperancilla, DOST-8 Regional Director in spearheading the ceremonial turn-over of the financial assistance to the recipient LGUs and their intended beneficiaries. With the DOST group are Provincial Director of Biliran, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos,  the DOST VIII GIA-Coordinator, Ms. Lucia P. Dauz,  DOST Biliran staff Engr. Ma. Catherine Gonda, SRSII and Mr. Teddy Abenido, SRA, and Mr. Dominic Abiabi of DOST-8.

Mayor Gemma G. Adobo of Cabucgayan and Mayor Enrico V. Uyvico of Culaba, also led the recipients who accepted the ceremonial check during the separate occasions that were held in the SB Hall of Culaba and in the Municipal Terminal of Cabucgayan. The Mayors stressed their gratefulness to the DOST Regional Office VIII, and expressed their commitments to push for the realization of the project objectives. LGU Cabucagayan received PhP176,000 in GIA assistance while LGU-Culaba received PhP214,000. The assistance covers the purchase of equipment and tools and label design development and execution for the target products.