Outstanding DOST-SETUP beneficiaries awarded at NST Week celebration

Carne Ybanag of Lighthouse Cooperative is Region 02 awardee

SMX Convention Center, Manila. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spearheaded the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia with a week-long exhibit, from July 23 to 27 (Tuesday to Saturday), 2013. Dubbed as ExpoScience 2013, it showcases the latest innovations and inventions of Filipino scientists and engineers, etc.

Senator Loren Legarda led the tour of the exhibition booths after the opening program. 

     The exhibit highlighted DOST technologies such as the Advanced MaterialsLaboratory (ADMATEL), a testing facility for semiconductors; the AutomatedGuideway Transit (AGT), an alternative transportation now being used at UP-Diliman; the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH which is DOST’s  response for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines; DOST’s Certified Seed Production program for improved agricultural productivity; and the other ICT-driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive, and many others. It also featured the ceremonial switching of Project NOAH’s 1,000 sensors expected to be installed within the year. Also featured was DOSTv, a web channel that provides 24/7 information on the weather.

     The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) Forum was conducted on the second day of the NSTW celebration wherein sixteen (16) business firms/ SETUP beneficiaries were awarded as Outstanding SETUP Adopters: Tartland Baguio Pasarabo (CAR); Maglaya’s Woodcraft (Region I); Carne Ybanag-LighthouseCooperative (Region II); Amanda’s Marine Products (Region III); MFP Home of Quality Food Corporation (NCR); Farmtec Foods, Inc. (Region IV-A); Mindoro Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Region IV-B); Belen’s Pinahamis Na Pili, Atbp. (Region V); Trappist Monastic Food Products (Region VI); Total Woodcraft (Region VII); TAP’s Handmade Products (Region VIII); Woodtech Builders (Region IX); Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (Region X); Rosario’s Fruit Stop (Region XI); Rafols Machine Shop and Engineering Services (Region XII); and Marjeck Food Products (CARAGA). Farmtech Foods, Inc. later received an award as the National Level Best SETUP Adopter.

     The DOST-SETUP is a banner program of the Department of Science and Technology. It is a nationwide strategy to  motivate, encourage and assist Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in improving their productivity and competitiveness  through the technology interventions like provision of the cost of equipment through Innovative System Support (ISS), technology trainings, product development, plant lay-out, equipment design with training for its utilization, laboratory tests of products, packaging and labelling, trainings on  Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), 5S, Hazard, Analytical, Critical and Control Point (HACCP), Energy Audit, Cleaner Production Technology (CPT), consultancy services through Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX),  Consultancy on Agricultural Productivity Enhancement  (CAPE) and product promotion thru S&T Fairs, product flyers  and website development.

     For the last ten years of the program, it has generated over Php73 billion in sales, generated nearly 44,000 jobs, penetrated over 2,000 new markets and has Php0.5 billion fund for this year.  It is collateral-free, zero interest and proposal-driven funding that is payable to the DOST within a period of three (3) years. by:christiandsales

More photos:https://www.facebook.com/lighthousecoop/media_set?set=a.398816963556911.1073741834.100002858333858&type=1 

Lighthouse Cooperative Engages Students for Summer Jobs

TUGUEGARAO CITY, SUMMER 2012 - One again, this year’s Sale in the City, a yearly summer sale promo of the Lighthouse Cooperative in Tuguegarao City has engaged a total of seventy (70) student-participants of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9547, otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening  And Expanding The Coverage Of The Special Program For Employment Of Students, Amending For The Purpose Provisions Of R.A. No. 7323, Otherwise  Known As The Special Program For Employment Of Students.” The law allows any person or entity employing at least ten (10) persons may employ poor but deserving students fifteen (15) years of age but not more than twenty-five (25) years old, paying them a salary or wage not lower than the minimum wage for private employers and the applicable hiring rate for the national and local government agencies. It also provides a specific sharing of salaries for the SPES participants as follows: Sixty per centum (60%) of the said salary or wage shall be paid by the employers in cash and forty per centum (40%) by the government in the form of a voucher which shall be applicable in the payment for the students' tuition fees and books in any educational institution for secondary, tertiary, vocational or technical education: Provided, That local government units (LGUs) may assume responsibility for paying in full his salary or wages. The amount of the education vouchers shall be paid by the government to the educational institutions concerned within thirty (30) days from its presentation to the officer or agency designated by the Secretary of Finance (Section 2, R.A. 9547).

The Sale in the City is a project of the Lighthouse Cooperative which aims to provide an easy and convenient way to shop for school supplies at reduced prices and with more choices of goods, from notebooks to school uniforms. The Lighthouse Cooperative, for this purpose has installed booths for different items along its corridors inside the Jose Alma Arcade, along Luna corner Taft streets in Tuguegarao City.

It has entered into a partnership with the DOLE so it can help students earn some income during their summer break. The objective of the SPES is  to develop the intellectual capacities of children of poor families and harness their potentials for the country's well being. Specifically, the Program aims to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by providing income or augment their income through encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations. The SPES is open to all qualified high school, college or vocational students or drop-outs and interested employers. /cds