Gov't techno program helps SMEs
ROXAS CITY -- The government is helping micro, small and medium enterprises become more viable and competitive by encouraging and assisting them to adopt technological innovations and improve operations.
This support reaches the MSMEs through the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The DOST has already assisted at least four small and medium enterprises in Capiz since the program was introduced in the province in 2005 while four more ventures have been lined up to avail of the program this year.
DOST Provincial Science and Technology Officer Lea A. Tabligan said SET-UP is intended for existing enterprises in response to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's economic policy to develop and support MSMEs in view of the important role they play in national economic growth.
SET-UP intends to enable MSMEs to address their technical problems through various DOST technology transfer interventions as well as through the provision of a wide variety of technical services.
There are five industry or enterprise sectors that have been prioritized to avail of assistance from SET-UP including the following: food processing; furniture; fashion accessories, gifts, toys, housewares, handicrafts and natural fibers and dyes; marine and aquatic resources; and horticulture.
The major strategies by which the program hopes to achieve its objectives are provision of technology, product standards and testing, packaging and labeling, database management and information system, and linkaging and networking.
The program assists MSMEs to address current technological problems, obtain free technical advice from consultants, avail of technical training courses for workers, acquire new equipment to mechanize or improve production line through interest-free venture financing assistance subject to availability of funds, linkage with financial institutions, and standardize and improve product quality.
(PIA-JSC)