Kim’s Handicraft gets the nod of DOST-SETUP

Kim's Handicraft products

Another family enterprise from Eastern Samar received DOST technical and financial assistance to upgrade its production of facility. Kim’s Handicraft of Barangay Pepelitan, Borongan City, who specializes in wood beads production is among the MSMEs in the province who benefitted the DOST's Small and Medium Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) for 2012.

Mr.Ruben Ana, who primarily operates the business, is actually a government employee who had embarked on the said business for a couple of years already. Wood beads production is a rare type of venture in the region,thus, the firm enjoys increasing demand for his products from local residents and visitors. Furthermore, he is presently maintaining a supply of wood beads to direct exporters in Cebu.In the past, he had to turn down contracts of some exporters due to the limited production capacity of his firm. This prompted him to apply for the DOST-SETUP.

Last July 2012 at DOST PSTC-Eastern Samar, Mr. Ana received the check amounting to Ninety Five Thousand Pesos (P95,000.00) as financial aid for the firm’s acquisition of equipment to raise its production capacity and to eventually meet the demands for its products.

With the brand new equipment acquired out of the financial assistance, which include 1 unit of beading machine, 2 units of bench drill, 3 units of wood puncher, and 4 units of air sprayer,Mr. Ana is now confident that the firm will be able to increase its production volume by 40%, and generate and average monthly gross sales of at least P150,000.00.

“I am really thankful that DOST offers this kind of program. It is a great help for micro-enterprises.”, said Mr. Ana with a beaming smile. (JomarRapatan, SRA)