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Written by Goldy Cordero

Created: 29 May 2023

Congressman Jonathan Keith Flores, DOST Bukidnon led by Provincial Director Ritchie Mae L. Guno together with the livelihood members of the pineapple growers in Lantapan, Bukidnon during the signing of the MOA (May 2, 2023)

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Representative Jonathan Keith Flores of the 2nd Congressional District of Bukidnon ink a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a project on pineapple fiber extraction in Lantapan, Bukidnon. This collaborative project is envisioned to help minimize the waste management costs of the local growers, process quality pineapple fiber, generate employment, and create opportunity for additional income to the beneficiaries.

The Pineapple Fiber Extraction project is a result of technology needs assessment conducted by DOST Bukidnon with a community in Lantapan. This led to the collaboration of establishing a dedicated facility equipped with specialized machinery. The project involves the processing of 45 tons of pineapple waste. This waste primarily consists of pineapple leaves that are typically discarded after the fruit is harvested. Instead of being treated as waste, the project aims to extract valuable fibers from these pineapple leaves.

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Written by Nova Belle Calotes

Created: 24 May 2023

The Philippine Innovation Act, also known as Republic Act 11293, recognizes the importance of innovation in national development and sustainable economic growth. As part of the effective implementation of this law, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is authorized to issue grants for innovation programs, activities, and projects, subject to guidelines issued by NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

NEDA is now opening the Call for Proposals for the 2023 Innovation Grants until June 13, 2023, 11:59 PM. Interested proponents from various government agencies are required to authorize primary and/or alternate focal persons to create an account, complete the grant application forms, and provide supporting documents through the Electronic Innovation Grants Information System (EIGIS), accessible at: https://eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph/.

For more detailed information, please refer to the attached guidelines or visit eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph/resources1. For inquiries, you may reach the Innovation Fund Management Division through eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph/contactus.

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES

Entities eligible for the submission of proposals are the following:

• Must be an agency of the government, including departments, bureaus, offices, GOCCs), capable of receiving and managing grants

• Attached agencies, regional offices, and operating units are eligible to submit a proposal separate from their respective central offices or parent agencies if all the following criteria are met:

1. Directly receiving funds from the DBM;
2. Must have an existing Modified Disbursement System (MDS) trust account;
3. Must have a separate organization code based on the Unified Account Code Structure (UACS);
4. Recipient of fund transfers from higher-level agencies; and
5. Authorized to receive grants and/or collect revenues.

In the absence of the abovementioned requirements, regional offices and operating          units should submit proposals through their respective central offices or parent                          agencies.

ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND PROJECTS

The following types of programs, activities, and projects may qualify for innovation grants. Applicants may choose to combine elements from each type as they deem relevant:

1. Pre-commercialization, Commercialization, or Diffusion Projects– refers to the pre-commercialization and commercialization activities of research and development (R&D) outputs; it includes activities beyond the ideation phase, such as prototyping, testing, intellectual property development and registration, production, and promotion activities.

It also pertains to the public sector, inclusive, or grassroots innovation, and social innovation that a proponent may undertake with the aim of introducing product innovation or enhancing existing services and processes.

1. Innovation Facilities and Services – refers to the establishment of new or enhancement of existing infrastructure or properties to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, including operating expenses for innovation centers, co-working spaces, incubation support, or shared business services, among others.

1. Innovation Culture Promotion – refers to activities which foster a culture of innovation and strengthen the innovation ecosystem such as educational programs, capacity-building activities, trade exhibits, expositions and missions, hackathons, or other platforms for networking and collaborative partnerships.

1. Innovation Policy Research – refers to research studies which aim to introduce new or significantly improved solutions relating to innovation policy and governance.

FUNDING THRESHOLD AND LIMITATIONS

The funding support threshold for the implementation of new or existing innovation-related programs, activities, and projects shall not exceed five million pesos (PHP 5 million).

The following items shall comprise the negative list for access to the funds appropriated for grants for innovation programs, activities, and projects:

1. Mandatory provision of health and social services;
2. Mandatory provision of water supply and sanitation services;
3. General construction and public works;
4. General services and administration;
5. Standalonecomputerization or installation of IT and telecommunications equipment;
6. Livelihood seed capital and training programs;
7. Conduct of research studies, support to ongoing theses or dissertations, or other investigatory projects involving experimental procedures to acquire new knowledge or search for application of new findings; and
8. Tourism promotion activities.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS

1. General Criteria:
   1. Proposals must be aligned with sections or themes in the Philippine Innovation Act, such as MSME innovation, regional innovation and cluster policy, strategic RD&E, innovation centers and business incubators, innovation instruments, diaspora for innovation, advocacy and community education, and with the priority areas in the National Innovation Agenda Framework.
   2. The proposal must exhibit novelty, relevance to the constituency’s needs, and the ability to create new opportunities for economic growth or social development. It must also be viable and sustainable, and its expected outcomes must result in positive changes for the target beneficiaries.
   3. Proponents are assessed based on their competence exhibited through experience, capability, and compliance.
   4. Proposals must be gender-responsive, gender-sensitive, or with promising GAD components.
   5. The primary and alternate focal persons should be part of the staff/personnel of the proponent agency, preferably holding a plantilla position.
   6. Proposals should be endorsed by the Head of the Agency.

1. Proposal submission, evaluation and approval:
   1. To apply for funding, proponents are required to authorize a primary and/or alternate focal person to create an account, complete the application forms, and provide the supporting documents through the NEDA Electronic Innovation Grants Information System (EIGIS), accessible at eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph.
   2. Proposals that are not submitted through EIGIS will not be accepted nor reviewed.
   3. The Program, Activity, and Project Leader/Focal Person or Alternate Focal Person shall accomplish and submit the following forms:
      1. Form 1 – Grant Application Form
      2. Form 2 - Summary of Previous Innovation-related PAPs
      3. Form 3 – Work and Financial Plan
      4. Form 4 – Line-Item Budget (auto-generated by EIGIS based on the answers on Form 3)
      5. Form 5 – Undertaking
      6. The primary and/or alternate focal persons shall also upload technical drawings (if applicable), the proponent’s most recent Agency Scorecard (or any proof of compliance to performance and reporting standards, such as Transparency Seal, ISO Quality Management System, FOI, Citizen’s Charter, etc.), and other supporting documents
      7. Proposals shall be screened through the proposal evaluation process set under NEDA-DBM Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2023-01, and shall be endorsed by the NIC Executive Director to the NIC Executive Technical Board for approval.
      8. The proposed program, activity, and components must be completed within 12 months, on or before September 30, 2024.

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Written by Goldy Cordero

Created: 22 May 2023

Owner Ms. Paula Chiong showcasing her pineapple jam and other products available at their café in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Mama Nene Homemade Delights locally known as Paula’s Bukidnon Delight earns its Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) for its Pineapple Jam, through the consultancy and training services of the Department of Science and Technology.  

The Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) is a requirement of the Food and Drug Administration for food products (beverages, water, canned goods, etc.), food supplements, medicines, and others if such products will be exported. It is also a requirement of institutional buyers such as malls and supermarkets. With the newly acquired CPR, this woman-led enterprise can now expand its market reach and offer its delicious and high-quality pineapple jam throughout the country through various malls, pasalubong centers, and others.

Ms. Paula Chiong, the owner, considers this achievement a significant milestone since pineapple jam is the very first product of the business. “I thought na imposible para sa isa ka micro na negosyante na maka kuha og FDA LTO and CPR but with the help and guide of DOST napa sayon and napa dali and I have proven na walay impossible basta naay pasencya, pag kugi, perseverance and determination. Karon challenges nasad ang atubangon which is to conquer the Philippine market”. She relayed how DOST has assisted her firm to acquire FDA License to Operate, and now her CPR. She also said that with this new milestone, she is ready to face a new challenge: conquering the Philippine market.  

DOST Bukidnon Provincial Director Ritchie Mae Guno during the project monitoring at the facility of Paula’s Bukidnon Delights 

The firm first acquired the SETUP program. Aside from the technology upgrading they have acquired, they are also a licensee of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)’s Enhanced Nutribun Technology. The firm is also a beneficiary of the Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX) Program through the consultancy services of DOST. These programs have helped the company improve its plant layout, food safety, and halal training, which can help boost the firm’s competitiveness and productivity. The firm was also assisted in its laboratory analysis through the DOST 10 Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories.

Ms. Paula is currently producing 1,000 kilograms of pineapple jam every month – an increase of 66% after DOST intervention and has produced seven additional products such as Pineapple muffin, pineapple ensaymada, Paula’s Mango  Jam, Paula’s Langka, Paula’s vinegar, Paula’s vinaigrette and Paula’s Chili Sauce.

Pineapple Jam of Paula’s Bukidnon Delights

Paula’s Bukidnon Delights products are now becoming among the most sought-after pasalubong products from the province. The firm also caters walk-in visitors of their newly opened café at the Kaamulan Ground, Capitol Compound, Malaybalay City –where their enutribun facility is also at. (Goldy Cordero/DOST 10)

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Written by Rogelyn C. Calago

Created: 29 May 2023

Six hundred twenty-eight Subanen learners from Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in Conception, Misamis Occidental are now actively using STARBOOKS, the country’s first S&T digitized library, in seven public schools.