DOST funds machinery, equipment upgrading in Siquijor

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Aug 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Science Technology (DOST-7) in the region has approved another project for Siquijor province, this time, the Machinery and Equipment of Lyn and Sam Welding Work and Machine in Catulayan San Juan, Siquijor. 

DOST-Siquijor Provincial Director Mario de la Pena said Lyn and Sam Welding Work and Machine owned by couple Sam and Lenie Tubal is the beneficiary of the project entitled “Machinery and Equipment Upgrading of Lyn & Sam Welding Work and Machine in Catulayan, San Juan, Siquijor” as a component project of Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP). 

He said the projects aims to upgrade the fabrication capability of the machine shop through the introduction of lathe machine to improve productivity in the production of mini corn mill and other metal based products. 

Specifically, he said, it introduces Lathe Machine to improve product quality and increase production volume by 50% based on the 2011 production output. 

DOST interventions include upgrading the fabrication of mini corn mill and other steel products; acquisition and installation of turning lathe machine, and technical skills upgrading of workers through trainings. 

"Our office ensure that funds received from DOST/SET-UP are used to acquire and/or fabricate all equipment needed for the project," De la Pena said. 

DOST/SETUP released P374,400 recently to Lyn and Sam Welding Work and Machine to facilitate the acquisition/fabrication of all the equipment/materials. 

DOST will also monitor and ensure that the implementation of the above project is in accordance with the schedule of activities. It will also monitor, evaluate and document project activities and identify alternative courses of action to address problems met, if any, during the implementation of the project. 

Lyn and Sam Welding Work and Machine, on the other hand, must ensure that funds are not used for money market placement, timed deposits and other forms of investments not related to the project citing several other provisions on the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the DOST and the beneficiary. 

De la Pena said, the beneficiary is responsible for the day to day operation of the project and ensures that it progresses to a commercial scale in the shortest time possible. 

SETUP is one of the strategic programs under the National Science & Technology (S&T) Plan that provides funds for various livelihood development projects in the provinces, de la Pena said. (mbcn/RAC/PIA-7-Siquijor)