MANSALAY, Oriental Mindoro -- BST Ink and Digital Printing Services from Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro received an 8-kW Hybrid On-grid Solar Energy System (SES) from DOST-MIMAROPA through the DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), to address delays in production and delivery of its products and services caused by frequent power interruptions in the municipality.

Power interruptions in Mansalay and Oriental Mindoro in general are quite common and occur almost every day. These interruptions, which take place due to insufficient power supply in the province during business hours, have hampered operations of many firms causing delays in production, and at times malfunctioning of equipment which may prove costly to the firm if not addressed immediately. It created challenges to many firms including BST Ink and Digital Printing Services, which offer dry fit shirt sublimation, tarpaulin printing, and PVC ID printing.

To help the firm have access to an alternative power supply, the SES was installed on their firm eliminating delays in production which consequently translated to as much as 30% in productivity. The firm was also able to reduce their production expenses by 25% by utilizing a renewable source of energy.

Aside from the printing shop, the SES was also able to provide alternative power to the owners’ other businesses including a water refilling station and car wash and fulfill their domestic power requirements.

“Dati po ang operasyon namin ay naaantala dahil sa mga power outages sa isang araw. Sa ngayon, di na po namin alam kung may kuryente na o brownout pa rin dahil sa solar energy, wala nang epekto ang brownout sa aming mga maliliit na negosyo. “Tiyak din po na malaki ang mababawas sa aming electric consumption sa darating na reading period ng ating electric cooperative,” said Ms. Merely Macatangay, owner of BST Ink and Digital Printing Services. (DOST MIMAROPA)