The Department of Science and Technology is giving P385,000 worth of livelihood funds to seven beneficiaries in Negros Occidental for the establishment of community-based food processing facilities, a press release from the Philippine Information Agency said.

The DOST will provide equipment support although particular sites for the facilities are yet to be determined, the press release said.

A total of P55,000 will be given to each facility, or P385,000 for the entire province, covering about 180 worker-recipients.

The grant is part of funds turned over recently by the DOST to various beneficiaries in Western Visayas, including five in Aklan and six in Iloilo, the PIA said.

Meanwhile in Iloilo, the DOST gave a check for P682,740 to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Foundation or SMED, a non-government organization.

SMED president Valerie Maravilla said in the press release that the assistance will help them reach out to more recipients and generate more employment.

Sheila Oberio, officer-in-charge of the Iloilo Provincial Science and Technology Department said that technology-based incubation centers will be set up, with the DOST providing equipment to the identified centers for micro enterprise.

This is a livelihood project in the sense that it will make use of locally available resources in the community with the use of the facilities and it can also help generate employment, Rowen Gelonga, DOST Region 6 director, said  in the same press release.*

back to top