DOST technologies improve furniture production

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Once fledgling furniture firms in the countryside are headed for the big time, thanks to technological interventions provided by the government.

Where before most of these micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) catered to the domestic demands as dictated mostly by the needs of the local construction industry, now many are exporting their products to countries in various parts of the world.

The support given to these entities have been in the form of technologies generated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and disseminated through its flagship program, the Small Enterprises Technological Upgrading Program (SET-UP).

A brainchild of DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro and a component of the Arroyo administration’s program to strengthen MSMEs, SET-UP encourages and assists MSMEs in adopting technological innovations to enhance their operational efficiency and boost their productivity and competitiveness.

Example of the DOST-assisted MSMEs is the CM Bamboocraft Center in Las Paz, Iloilo City, established by the Carmelite Sisters in 1974.

In recent years, the CMBC’s operations improved considerably through the technical innovations introduced by the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) headed by Director Florence Soriano.

Los Baños-based FPRDI assisted the firm in the fabrication of a furnace-type bamboo kiln (oven) dryer and in the acquisition of a low-cost moisture meter. With the dryer, product quality improved significantly because drying minimized mold infestations. This resulted in lesser rejects in the market.

CMBC now exports gifts, toys, houseware (GTH), religious articles (Nativity sets, Christmas Decors, rosaries), frames, chimes, pendants, and key and candle holders to the United States, Canada, and countries in Asia and Europe.

Another beneficiary is the Northlandia Furniture Enterprises (NFE) in Santiago City (Isabela).

A decade ago, the firm only produced wood, storage, battery, and nail boxes and pallets. Now, it is producign home and office furniture, school tables, chairs, armchairs, and cribs, many of which find their way to Filipino families in Taiwan and Hawaii.

Things began to cange for the better when NFE proprietor Paulito Tan availed himself othe FPRDI-developed kiln dryer technology through DOST-Region 2 headed by Director Rustico Santos.

Where before, Tan recalled, some of the pieces of furniture NFE produced were rejected owing to cracks, now all its finished products are accepted.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also been of big help to NFE in the marketing of its products.

DOST, through its Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), has also assisted researchers of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte, in the design and fabrication of a bamboo pool maker.

The machine can process sized bamboo pols in 25 minutes with uniform specifications. thus, it wil help enhance the commercialization of bamboo products as new materials for high-value and export-quality furniture.

Another firm now in the big time is the Yrezabal and Company, inc. in Parañaque City, which manufactures high-end rattan furniture, architectural, andother construction components using YCI president and CEO Eduardo Yrezabal’s invention, Fermacane. the process is an innovative system of enlarging rattan poles into multi-layered products.

the company was assisted by the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) in the purchase of equipment, establishment of showrooms, and availment of working capital for the project.

The firm’s products are now best sellers not only in the Philippines but also in 15 other countries where Permacane products are exported.

The Pacific Arts and Decors, Inc. (PADI) in Dasmariñas, Cavite, is also thankful to the FPRDI, TAPI, DOST-Region 4, Cavite Provincial Science and Technology Center, and UP Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB-CFNR) for the improvement and expansion of its operations.

PADI, owned by Emmanuel Padiernos, produces at present exportable furniture items (six to eight containers per month) ranging from sala sets to other intricate products using rattan and wood. The firm now has 250 workers, from seven when it started about two decades ago.