PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA)—The assisted small enterprises in the MIMAROPA region have generated ₱1.7 billion in sales from 2022 to 2024 and have shown an increasing contribution to the region’s manufacturing sector, said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Regional Director Ma. Josefina Abilay of DOST MIMAROPA said its program, the small enterprise technology upgrading program (SETUP), has funded 100 projects and created 408 direct employment positions from 2022 to 2024.
Citing the region’s gross domestic product, Abilay said that the manufacturing sector, where enterprises are included, grew from 1.2 percent in 2022 to 1.37 in 2024.
“The contribution to the MIMAROPA gross domestic product of the manufacturing sector has shown steady growth. Indicating that the supported enterprises are playing an increasing role in driving economic outputs,” Abilay said in a Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas of the Philippine Information Agency.
The program is designed to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt innovative technologies to improve productivity and competitiveness in the market.
The largest number of MSMEs assisted by DOST-SETUP were from the food processing industry as a result of the substantial demand in the market. The support pushed the annual average increase in productivity to 36.84 percent from 2022 to 2024.
The DOST had already extended ₱101 million in assistance to funded enterprises, resulting in gross sales of ₱1.745 billion from 2022 to 2024.
It also enhances and innovates indigenous products for the market. Its program, dubbed Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND), had innovated some products in Palawan, such as wine and vinegar from cashew, mango cider vinegar, and fish sauce from fish “Tigi.”
“Sa GRIND, nasa stage pa lang tayo na after natin ma-identify ano ‘yong indigenous na technologies then we’re studying paano ba talaga ito ma-enhance pero hindi naman natin ito ma-impose,” she said.
The department suggests innovations to owners to make their products attractive in the market and provide funding for enhancement. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
