Countryside entrepreneurs to get support from DOST

CEBU, Philippines - The Technology Resource Center (TRC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will soon give a wider range of support to countryside entrepreneurs with the establishment of its Community Technology Business Incubation program this year.

TRC Director Dennis Cunanan said that the program, an offshoot of DOST’s Open Technology Business Incubation (Open TBI), will be implemented in partnership with the DOST regional offices.

A technology business incubator, or TBI, is a program that   helps entrepreneurial companies and start-up businesses to take off and develop through the TBI’s array of business support resources and services.

Some of TBI services include business space for rent, marketing assistance, accounting/financial management assistance, links to partners, help with regulatory compliance, and others.

In Cebu, the University of the Philippines-Cebu in partnership with DOST introduced the Pre-Incubation Program, to develop more IT entrepreneurs here couple of years back.

The TBI-Cebu provides both office space and services, where technology based start-ups can hone their talents and ultimately go into the commercial space.

Also, in addition to helping entrepreneurs propel their businesses, the DOST-TRC also helps displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to start over through its free livelihood trainings.

DOST, in partnership with Duty Free Philippines, likewise offers livelihood packages such as washing machines for Laundromat business or car tools for automobile service business through its Kabuhayan Shopping Program.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary this Feb. 23, DOST-TRC vows to continue its legacy of providing opportunities for the people.

“The TRC has been the industry leader in terms of livelihood training and technology resource for nearly 35 years. In keeping up with its mandate of creating opportunities, TRC will continue improving and innovating its programs to be able to enhance the productivity of more sectors,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said.

This year, TRC will focus on sectors like the youth, women, senior citizens and OFW’s. According to TRC Director Dennis Cunanan, expanding TRC’s services will enable it to serve more sectors and, this way people can identify themselves and find their place in the whole picture.

“Creating opportunities is a continuous process. We will not stop from now and make sure that the workforce of the center will adapt to the changing times and we will be still relevant and effective as an institution. The people deserve nothing less,” Cunanan said.

Aside from strengthening its public-private partnerships, TRC’s programs also include commercialization of DOST mature technologies.

In the pipeline is the commercialization of affordable baby foods developed by Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).

TRC was created on February 23, 1977 to hasten and enhance social and economic progress in the country through harnessing indigenous resources and technologies.

Under former President Corazon Aquino, it was renamed as Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC). 

Last 2007, by virtue of Executive Order 614 by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it regained its original name and was placed under the administrative supervision of DOST. - (FREEMAN)