With her professional background, Leila N. Aclaro, a registered nutritionist-dietician, successfully established a diet care business with the assistance of DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (DOST SETUP) in 2019 to upgrade her processing equipment.

This specifically aims to provide hassle-free blenderized food for tube-feeding patients. Dubbed LNA Dietcare, Aclaro’s business caters to the nutritional management with medical conditions for patients of all ages.

LNA Dietcare was founded in September 2016 which started as a small clinic located in Mango Avenue, Piapi, Dumaguete City. “My passion and dedication to my profession inspired me to start my own business. My 28 years as a nutritionist-dietician, with more than 20 years of hospital experience, led me to establish LNA Dietcare,” said Aclaro.

However, with the pandemic, the Dietcare greatly affected its operation, but with government’s support or from DOST, she admitted that it helped her company to get back on its feet.

As the company grew, it ventured to preparing meals for patients based on their unique nutritional needs. Later on, LNA Dietcare secured a five-year contract from the newly-opened hospital in Sibulan as an outsourced agency.

The firm has provided high-quality and nutritious food to both in-patients and outpatients. Her dedication to maximizing profit and sales has not hindered her from creating a workplace that values inclusivity and diversity.

Her belief that women are equally capable as men in the workplace has led her to employ both men and women personnel.

Aclaro credits the DOST SETUP for the success of her business. Without DOST’s help in recommending what equipment to use, the business would not have been successful.

With that, DOST Negros Oriental awarded Alarco as Best Women Entrepreneur and turned over a plaque of appreciation and cash prize. “I am humbly thankful to DOST for the award given to me as the Best Woman Entrepreneur in Negros Oriental. I am grateful for the opportunity and thankful for DOST’s contribution and support. I sincerely appreciate the help in pursuing my business career”, said Aclaro.

Provincial S&T Director Atty. Gilbert Arbon of DOST expressed his sincere congratulations to this year’s winner particularly to Aclaro for garnering the distinction as one of the best women entrepreneurs in Region 7. He said Aclaro was able to capitalize her knowledge as a nutritionist-dietician into a niche food business catering to hospital patients, and she managed to keep it going despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aclaro has shown that women can succeed in the world of entrepreneurship by creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity, and by addressing the unique needs of its customers through science, technology and innovation. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Y. Abing, DOST)