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Secretary Fortunato de la Peña of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said that innovation for inclusive growth has been the central idea of different programs of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in recent years, particularly in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the provinces.

“We have many local products and services, which are world-class, and DOST is recognizing this. That is why we are sharing all the resources and knowledge that we have to empower them to be innovative in improving and marketing their respective products,” said Secretary de la Peña during the launching of Benito and Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF) Innovation Awards held last October 17 at Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
Sec. de la Peña shared that DOST, through its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), had helped many SMEs in the countryside to improve the quality of their production and services, particularly in the areas of technology upgrading, packaging assistance, market research, and technology transfer. He said that through this support, DOST was able to create ideal environment for our SMEs to develop and introduce more innovative products and services.

Prior to her research, there was little known information about pandan. Locally, 20 out of the 450 species of this monocot plant grow abundantly in the country. Ordinarily, pandan leaves are used by locals in preparing sweet delicacies and beverages due to its sweet aromatic scent.

In most occasions, you may find pandan leaf inside steamed rice pots.

Business people from the Visayas are now looking into technologies from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for possible investment and business opportunities.

“We asked DOST to be our partner,” said Jude P. Abenoja, president of theOrmoc City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OrCham), as he told about the biggest business conference in the Visayas held Sept. 15-16 at the Ormoc City Superdome in Leyte.