‘Boneless bagoong’ a hit in Cagayan Valley

And now, "boneless bagoong".

This improved popular Filipino condiment made of small fish as main ingredient is now a hit in Cagayan, thanks to technology intervention by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Beneficiary of the project is the Bingbong Original Boneless Bagoong at Batangan, Gonzaga.

The project–"Upgrading of Product’s Quality and Production Capabilities of Bingbong’s Original"–was supported by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), with the DOST-Region 2 as coordinator.

DOST-Region 2 reported that after the technology intervention, the firm’s annual gross income soared to P770,000 in 2002 from P77,000 in 1999.

The firm is now producing 3,000 cases of boneless bagoong per year at 24 bottles (350 milliliters per bottle) per case. With assistance from DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), it plans to increase its production by 50-80 percent in 2003.

Bingbong is but one of the scores of micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises that have been assisted by DOST through SET-UP, which encourages and helps MSMEs (medium and small enterprises) in adopting DOST-generated technologies to enhance their operational efficiency and boost their productivity and competitiveness.

A brainchild of DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro, SET-UP is a component of the Arroyo administration’s program to strengthen small and medium enterprises. – Rudy A. Fernandez