GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- The Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST) XII is bent on supporting the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) being the backbone of local economy thru its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP.

On Monday (June 27), DOST XII Asst. Regional Director for Technological Services Division Engr. Szalinah Mercado, representing Regional Director Sammy Malawan, led the ceremonial signing of memorandum of agreement between two new SETUP cooperators and one beneficiary for Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines (IFWDPH) held at DOST XII Regional Office in Koronadal City.

Under its flagship program--SETUP, DOST XII turned over P2,785,000 worth of assistance and equipment grant to the following beneficiaries broken down as follows: P1.7 million given to Organikian Agriventures Corporation in Brgy. Poblacion, Koronadal City for its technology upgrade; P1 million to 7R Coffee Processing and General Merchandise to improve its coffee productivity, and P175,000 to Bantilan Bakeshop located in Lugan 3, T'Boli, South Cotabato to support its proprietor Marla Bantilan, an overseas Filipino worker and her immediate family to kick-off a technology-driven enterprise in the area.

The DOST implementation of SETUP in Region XII has continued to make waves as a nationwide strategy poised at encouraging and assisting SMEs to espouse on technological innovations to upgrade or improve their operations, thereby enhancing their productiveness, competitiveness, and drive to flourish and thrive in a dynamic enterprise business.

DOST XII Cotabato Provincial Director Michael Ty Mayo said SETUP enables establishments or cooperators to address their technical difficulties or issues via "technology transfer and technology interventions" insisting their crucial role in energizing and stabilizing the the regional economy. (PIA XII)