BACNOTAN, La Union - The Department of Science and Technology Region I (DOST-I) awarded a salt production facility and salt iodizing machine worth Php 400,000.00 to Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University- North La Union Campus- Fisheries Research and Training Institute (DMMMSU-NLUC-FRTI) on 6 July 2022 at DMMMSU-NLUC, Paraoir, Bacnotan La Union.
DMMMSU-NLUC Chancellor, Dr. Junifer Rey E. Tabafunda, greeted the attendees of the event and offered his sincere gratitude to all the various team players who made the project possible.
On the other hand, Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extension at DMMMSU, said that an ordinary technology that can be used every day is preferable to an amazing technology that cannot be used in daily life. She further emphasized that innovations should be relevant, resizable according to the needs of the users, and reproducible for different uses. Dr. Gonzales, likewise, applauded the organizations' initiative in producing iodized salt because it can aid in tackling malnutrition in the communities.
The salt processing facility was formed through the successful collaboration of DOST-I, DMMMSU-NLUC-FRTI, Bestmark Agro-Industrial Manufacturing [the only accredited fabricator of the salt processing equipment], and JM Manufacturing, a DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) beneficiary.
DMMMSU President, Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr. also commended DOST-I for its unwavering support to the project and said that DOST is the third government agency with the highest worth of assistance to the university.
Finally, DOST-I Regional Director Armando Q. Ganal thanked all of the stakeholders for their cooperation and shared the agency's future plans with DMMMSU. He congratulated DMMMSU for contributing actively to all of their initiatives as a team.
Meanwhile, after the momentous turnover of the salt iodizing machine, DOST Laboratory Head Lena C. Rosario facilitated a test to determine whether iodine was present in the sample salt. The result turned out to be positive which means that the sample salt has been positively infused with iodine, giving added value to the product.
The turnover ceremony was also attended by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources representative Mea Baldonado, signifying the support of the office to promote the salt making venture in the area.
Also present during the event were Grace Monterola and team from JM Manufacturing and Marcos Aquino and team from Bestmark Agro-industrial Manufacturing.
This endeavor is aligned with the country’s aim to support domestic technology development and research and innovation by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities (SDG 9). Lastly, the introduction of the salt making facility will help boost productivity and market competitiveness of MSMEs as part of the goals of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), one of the flagship programs of the DOST. (By Carla Joyce B. Cajala, DOST-I)
