"Right now, the DOST is encouraging the active involvement of both the public and private sectors in joint technology development and utilization to increase productivity and product quality through a new policy that’s more customer-oriented," said Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro.
Alabastro said the DOST’s latest technologies in agriculture, food, information and communication technology (ICT) solutions, healthcare, construction, home care, biotechnology, furniture, aquaculture, organic fertilizer, clothing, power generation, metal works and herbal medicine are now ready for commercialization.
Alabastro said the government is bent on extending its support to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 60 percent of total exporting firms and 53 percent of job generators in the country.
"Entrepreneurs make critical contributions to economic development. They bring technology-intensive, often risky innovation to the market," she said.
Alabastro said the DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), which was launched in 2002, aims to enhance SMEs’ product competitiveness and generate more jobs, especially in rural areas.
"SETUP is DOST’s response to President Arroyo’s call to strengthen the micro enterprises and SMEs that are the country’s engine for job creation and wealth contribution," she said.
"The program is designed to benefit SMEs through the infusion of relevant technological innovations and support services. Thus, its ultimate aim is to create stable employment, especially among the rural poor," Alabastro said.
As of 2005, the DOST said SETUP has supported 431 projects, investing a total of P179.36 million in SMEs involved in food processing, furniture, fashion, gifts, toys, houseware, marine and aquatic resources, horticulture, and metals and engineering. It has also created 22,525 jobs.
SETUP’s support comes in the form of technology upgrading and acquisition, packaging and labeling, technical consultancy services, product standards development, and identification, training, and networking assistance, the DOST said.
"Modernizing the production line of these SMEs is the key to improving their operations in terms of productivity, product quality, manpower development, cost-efficiency, waste management and other operation related activities," Alabastro said.