By Rachel R. Perez, DOST-STII, S&T Media Service
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Photo by: Gerardo Palad, DOST-STII, DOSTv
Bulacan State University (BulSU) president, Dr. Cecilia S. Navasero-Gascon confirmed that they plan to tap the local farmers to supply the raw materials needed for the production of the emergency/disaster food in the DOST’s Regional Food Innovation Center (RFIC) in Central Luzon.
“Hindi pa s’ya (raw materials) galing sa [local] farmers. Nag de-develop pa kami ng technology, but once we have developed the technology, at least ready for commercialization, then we will be tapping the local farmers,” Gascon said when asked by the DOST-STII’s NSTW Team, during the press conference in the regional celebration of this year’s National Science and Technology Week celebration held last 24 November 2021.
The university president added that they want to perfect the taste of the products before partnering with the local farmers. She also said that the goal of the Center is to follow its framework: raw materials fresh from the farm – to product development at the RFIC in BulSU – and, to commercialization of the technology.
Photo by: Gerardo Palad, DOST-STII, DOSTv
Some of the products developed by the RFIC, which was also showcased in the soft-launch as part of the project visit of the DOST officials (including Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña), are the following: vacuum-fried Mushroom Chips, freeze-dried Ginataang Mais, freeze-dried Dampalit Atsara, freeze-dried Oregano, and freeze-dried Arrozcaldo.
The project is targeting to develop at least 20 commercially-viable commodities from the 55 product prototypes by optimizing the freeze-drying and vacuum-frying equipment of the Center.
Funded by DOST-III’s Regional Grants-In-Aid (RGIA) amounting to P1,500,000.00, and the counterpart of BulSU amounting to P1,018,400.00, with a total project cost of P2,632,400.00.
BulSU on THRIVE Central Luzon
Region III innovation continues as BulSU remains bullish and are now on the initial development of a new technology named, Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem or THRIVE.
THRIVE Central Luzon is a website that aims to strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem through a platform that will create collaborations between the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and its possible stakeholders.
Photo by: Gerardo Palad, DOST-STII, DOSTv
In the press conference, BulSU president Navasero-Gascon reiterated that they now have two MSMEs displayed on THRIVE, and at the same time, they also provide trainings/workshops for the initiative’s guidelines.
“Kailangan muna nating i-mapa through a data base: Ano ba ‘yung mga resources, research facilities at taong available? Ano ‘yung mga research na nagawa ng higher education institutions and research institutes in the region, and paano natin gagamitin ang mga ito, to help the MSMEs,” said Gascon.
Gascon also hopes that this technology will expand outside the region, to help more MSMEs in the country.
Furthermore, in a separate interview of the DOST-STII’s NSTW Team with Engr. Zedrick T. Farin, one of the members of the project management team, he mentioned that since MSMEs are the target beneficiaries of the technology, THRIVE Central Luzon is a good investment for them to create an upgrade and expansion by embracing the new technologies in the new normal.
