Another micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) in the city is set to boost its productivity under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (Setup) of the Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera.
DOST Benguet Provincial S&T Center Director Sheila Marie Claver and Dee Laurice Lapaan of the Thikface Food Services recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the Setup that includes the provision of one unit of planetary mixer, a two-deck gas oven, and one set of stainless cooling rack and the appropriate technology trainings/consultancy services and other S&T Intervention to improve efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of the firm, as needed.
Thikface Food Services, based in Pinsao Proper, Baguio City, has been operating since 2014, providing catering and food services to the locals, tourists, and private and government institutions.
The MSME’s services include delivery of cake products, such as Dream Cake Series and cupcakes, not only in Baguio but also in Zambales, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan.
Through the partnership, the DOST Setup aims to upgrade and acquire quality baking equipment in compliance to the current Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety standards, increase their annual volume of production and annual gross sales, and for the MSME to also acquire Food and Drug Administration license to operate.
Benguet PSTC has eight approved projects this year with around P6.36 million allocated for the provision of equipment and technology upgrade and other needed S&T interventions.
Other Setup beneficiaries in Baguio City are the Makk Builders in Sto. Tomas Proper, GQB Apparels of Barangay Ambiong, and Chokko’s Bakeshop of Pinsao Pilot Project.
In Benguet, the DOST Setup project beneficiaries for this year are the Benguet Fresh Produce Multipurpose Cooperative of Alno, La Trinidad; Morning Bloom Welding Shop of Barangay Balili, La Trinidad; Wow Digital Studio of Abatan, Buguias, Benguet; and JNON Construction of Shilan, La Trinidad.
Claver said Setup is DOST-Cordillera’s holistic S&T package for qualified MSMEs in the region to help improve their entrepreneurial undertakings and at the same time to boost economic activity in the region.
“We hope that with the full implementation of our Setup projects for 2021, these MSMEs will be able to improve production process and increase income and employment generation, thereby contributing to the economy, not only in Baguio City and Benguet but in the whole region as well,” she said. – Carlito C. Dar
