LEGASPI CITY - The application of technology strikes a big difference on the production capacity of microenterprise, and its adaptation in production can ensure small, rural entrepreneurs of sustainable income and growth, and they acquire capability to provide jobs to others.

Louie Garcia, owner-manager of Sofrocor International in Ligao City, Albay, and Salvacion Alemania, manager of San Roque Weavers Association, in Malilipot town, and others attest to production success as a result of technology application.

Garcia has applied techniques in the dyeing of abaca, natural fibers, reeds and straws, and in the pre-treatment of materials on his export-grade baskets, placemats, bags and other novelty items.

His Sofrocor Enterprises is a beneficiary of the Department of Science and Technology under its technology-upgrading program. His workers were trained on basic and advanced dyeing and pre-treatment of natural fibers.

"Owing to DOST intervention, there was 10-percent increase in my firm's manpower requirement, at least 10-percent increase in production volume and 2-percent increase in annual gross revenues," said Garcia. "I diversified to include lesser-used forest products."

According to DOST, Garcia's business can produce up to 20,000 pieces a month, marking 30-percent increases in productivity and export.

Meanwhile, Alemania attested to DOST's assistance in providing series of training, specifically on advanced hand-loom weaving, advanced dyeing, use and operation of a filamenting machine, designing, pinukpok production, and other weaving technologies. The weavers produce abaca bags, baskets, placemats, pillowcases and other novelty items.

DOST had provided rotary press and filamenting machines to improve the weavers' manual production of pinukpok or abaca fiber, abaca-based clothing and other finished products.

"It doubled the daily wage of tinagak makers from P75 to P150> The price of abaca sinamay increased from P75 to P500 a meter due to the technology," said Alemania.

Prime Legacy in Daraga town, Albay, formerly Nacion Handicraft, aiming to become an exporter of abaca and other natural fiber-based handicrafts, has requested DOST assistance for manufacturing/productivity and export promotion since 1999.

The government agency provided the company productivity consultancy services and training on production systems, materials management and space maximization. Additional training was provided on basic and advanced dyeing and pre-treatment of natural fibers.

As a result, Prime Legacy has achieved its goal of becoming an exporting firm.

In Polagui, Albay, a balut (duck egg) - processing family business has attained 50,000 egg-production capacity in its 13-day cycle after DOST stepped in - a clear departure from its previous 5,000 eggs/cycle.

DOST provided the balut making a modern technology by semimechanizing its production system, consisting of a 50m000-capacity electric incubator to process raw duck eggs into duck-egg embryo (balut).

The home enterprise in Ubaliw, Polangui, Albay, caters to at least 400 duck-egg retailers throughout Bicol, and also provides constant income to 200 duck-raisers who supply raw eggs. The firm has already turned over the equipment back to DOST-Bicol, and is now being used by another beneficiary, Santiago Young of Nabua, Camarines Sur.

The on-sight visit to the DOST-assisted enterprises were part of the Southern Luzon Science and Technology Road Show last month, led by Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Undersecretaries Rogelio Panlasigui and Florentino Tesoro and other officials, in coordination with the DOST Bicol regional office headed by Josefina Abilay.

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The natural alcoholic drink lambanog (coconut wine) now comes in different flavors and sports an elegant look after the Department of Science and Technology's Industrial Technology Development Institute, and Technology Application and Promotion Institute provided technological interventions to Capistrano Distillery, a family-owned enterprise in Tayabas, Quezon, engaged in manufacturing high-grade lambanog. The once-called "poor man's wine" now incorporates the distinct flavor and aroma of lipote, prunes, pineapple, coffee, blueberry, and cinnamon. Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro says cheers to the commercial success of lambanog, which, according to owner Isabelita Capistrano, who shared her testimony in thje Southern Luzon S&T Road Show, has secured steady footing in markets nationwide.