By Luisa S. Lumioan, S&T Media Service
J. Emmanuel Pastries, a pili nut processing business which
started out on a Php 500 capital and now a multi-million business, is the very
first Best National adoptor of the Department of Science and Technology’s
(DOST) Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
SETUP is one of the priority programs of DOST that aims to
boost small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) productivity and competitiveness by
assisting them in adopting technological innovations to improve their
operations.
When asked about the main ingredients for their success, J.
Emmanual Pastries co-owner Maria Lomibao said that these include “small
capital, perseverance, faith, and DOST.”
Ms.Lomibao was very grateful of the recognition their
company got on top of all the help extended by DOST. “My husband and I are overwhelmed by DOST’s
generosity,” she said, as she accepted the plaque of recognition.
J. Emmanuel Pastries availed of SETUP in 2003 to acquire
additional equipment for the company.
One of the company’s acquisitions was the gasifier which utilized waste
pili shells as fuel for the cooking. The company was able to solve the problem
of accumulating waste from the pili shells and realized a 50-percent savings
from its fuel consumption with the use of the gasifier, a technology developed
by Industrial Technology Development Institute of DOST.
Aside from the gasifier, the company also acquired roasting
machine, vacuum sealer, oven, foot sealer, extractor, evaporator, bottle
sterilizer, and stainless table. In
addition, the company improved its plant layout and design. Its employees also underwent training
activities on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Point (HACCP) compliance to ensure the quality of their
products.
Ms.Lomibao shared the ways in which the company benefitted
from the DOST program.
First, the company was able to improve the production
process with a systematized process flow, Food and Drug Administration
Certification, GMP compliance, and HACCP alignment.
Second, the company was able to improve and innovate its
products. The product line expanded and
diversified from pili nut confectioneries to coco jam, sesame seed balls,
sampaloc candy, banana chips, butter scotch and puto seko. Research and development initiatives of the company
also extended the shelf life of the products making them suitable for export.
Third, better management of people through personnel
training was accomplished by the company.
Fourth, the company was able to penetrate more markets with
additional sales outlets and reach to international market including South Korea and the United States .
All of this of course translated into financial benefits
through savings in fuel cost, increased productivity, product acceptance and
sales.
The impact of SETUP intervention did not end with the
company, she adds. The community was
able to benefit in terms of additional jobs and cleaner production technology
with minimum environmental impact.
The SETUP award, given during the National Science and
Technology Week’s SETUP Forum, seeks to recognize adoptors, inspire new
entrepreneurs, and highlight the role of science and technology in
industries. Aside from the National Best
SETUP Adoptor, the Regional Best SETUP adoptors were also recognized.
During the SETUP Forum, Ms.Lomibao and five other business
owners/managers shared how the DOST program made impact in their lives.
Summing up the activity’s objective, Engr. Rowen Gellonga,
regional director of DOST VI, said, “This forum is not only about sharing and
learning but also about networking and building partnerships.”
Sec. Mario G. Montejo, who was hinself a SETUP beneficiary
when he was still involved in SMEs long before he became DOST secretary,
extended his compliments to the awardees.
“I hope that you will serve as an inspiration to others,” he said. He also encouraged entrepreneurs to avail of
the program. “SETUP is here to provide assistance not only in the urban areas
but most especially those in the country sides,” he said.
SMEs that belong to any of these categories-- food
processing; furniture; metals and engineering; agriculture; marine products;
and gifts, houseware, and decors-- can avail of SETUP assistance.
SMEsinterested in availing of SETUP may contact the Regional DOST Office where
their businesses are located.###