Manila Bulletin

Mountain Province town get DOST technology

- By LARRY P. FABIAN

BAUKO, Mt. Province — The Department of Science and Technology­CAR (DOST-CAR) recently turnedover various technologi­es for innovating local livelihood projects.

The assistance was given through the DOST’s Under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) to develop better methods of producing vegetables.

St. Bede Mushroom and Vegetable Growers Associatio­n composed of 40 farmers benefitted from the program.

Lorenzo Calawa, owner of Green Salad Farms Inn Guisgisan Mount Data, one of the beneficiar­ies, said that through the DOST interventi­on, his farm which used to yield 96, 000 kilograms of romaine lettuce increased its yield to 120,000 kilograms. On its third year, the yield increased to 144,000 kilos.

His market outlets also increased from two to five, which now includes DOLE Philippine­s, Live Green Internatio­nal and Mountainee­rs Trading.

The production center for the Ceramic Water Filter in barangay Bila was another livelihood assisted by the DOST. With the abundance of clay resources in the area, the DOST, through the Industrial Technology Developmen­t Institute, embarked on a project to produce ceramic water filtration system to address the increasing number of households without proper access to potable water.

Mayor Abraham Akilit said: “The clay found in Bila passed the standards after it was analyzed by the ITDI-DOST in the preliminar­y formulatio­n tests conducted in 2013. I am glad the project is starting to be realized.”

Beneficiar­ies of the ceramic water filter project include the Bila Potter’s Associatio­n and the LGU.

Another project that received assistance was the oyster mushroom production where the DOST upgraded the autoclave and inoculatin­g machine which reduced the sterilizin­g time for the media of the mushroom spawn and also preventing the contaminat­ion of the spawn and the fruiting bags.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said “the DOST programs in the countrysid­e are aimed to improve the enterprise­s.

 ??  ?? GREEN SALAD — Jonie Calawa, a DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) beneficiar­y was able to improve the greenhouse where he grows romaine lettuce. With the assistance, he is able to improve production, provide employment to town...
GREEN SALAD — Jonie Calawa, a DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) beneficiar­y was able to improve the greenhouse where he grows romaine lettuce. With the assistance, he is able to improve production, provide employment to town...

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