PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (DOST Mimaropa) -- The Science, Technology, and Innovation Town Hop (STI Town Hop), popularized by DOST-MIMAROPA Provincial S&T Center-Palawan (PSTC-Palawan) went to the municipality of Bataraza to promote various DOST programs and services and showcase chosen technologies ready for adoption of stakeholders in the municipality.
The town hop, which was held last July 15, 2022, at the Municipal Lagoon, Brgy. Maranggas, Bataraza, Palawan was attended by members of the academe, MSMEs, and associations and cooperatives. Programs and services including the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines (iFWD PH), Technology Training, S&T Scholarships, Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL), and STARBOOKS, among others, were introduced to the community. Also, DOST-developed technologies including E-Nutribun, Tubig Talino, and Iron-Fortified Rice were showcased to encourage possible adopters.
Audiences who were identified as potential beneficiaries were visited for Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) to identify needs and possible assistance and engagement. A ceremonial awarding of SETUP assistance to May Anne’s Cake and Bread Hauz, a firm based in Bataraza, was also held to inspire more MSMEs to adopt technological innovations to boost their productivity.
For instance, a former OFW from Bataraza was introduced to different programs and services by DOST-MIMAROPA through the STI town hop that will help enhance its existing beverage production business.
“Ako ay isang OFW sa Hongkong na nawalan ng trabaho. Umuwi ako sa Bataraza,
Palawan. Nag start ako ng negosyo na tinawag kong Kahawa Instant Sara-Sara Drink
during pandemic. Marami ang nakatikim nito at in-encourage ako na iregister bilang
legal na negosyo. Sa pagattend ko dito sa STI TOWN HOP-BATARAZA nabigyan ako ng
solution sa mga tanong ko regarding sa label design, laboratory testings at mga maaari
kong makuhang tulong sa katulad kong naguumpisa palang sa trabaho. Salamat sa DOST PSTC PALAWAN. Ako ay nabisita pagkatapos ng forum na aking inattendan at nabigyan
ng mga advice sa aking products”, said Ms. Juddama A.H-nuh of Kahawa Instant Sara-Sara
Drink.
The STI Town Hop aims to promote STI programs and services to more people in the countryside by communicating and engaging with them on a personal level. It resumed in 2021 upon lifting of strict restrictions in the province due to COVID-19 and has already reached the municipalities of Puerto Princesa, Aborlan, Narra, Sofronio Española, Brooke’s Point, Roxas, Linapacan, Dumaran, and El Nido. (PR)
