(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 11 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Thursday, 9 November 2023

Rice mill in Madrid benefits from DOST innovation program

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

MADRID, Surigao del Sur -- With the commitment to the national goal of empowering the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently turned over to the owner of Erlinda Rice Mill, as beneficiary of the innovation fund amounting to  P1,609,440 in Madrid, Surigao del Sur.

DOST Caraga assistant regional director Ricardo Varela and provincial director Caressa Leanne V. Lim facilitated the turnover of the check that will take care of purchasing a better and upgraded equipment for the milling of rice.

Rice mill entrepreneurs play a vital role in the food security chain as good rice varieties require quality equipment to produce quality rice with high farm gate price, which means better income to farmers.

With the increased rice production due to better rice varieties planted, as well as the timely harvest season, local farmers will be needing more efficient equipment to mill the rice.

As strategically located in the rice granary of Caraga region, the Erlinda Rice Mill is owned by the Caperig family and managed by one of their sons, who started to venture in rice trading in the Northern part of Surigao del Sur before establishing the mill in 2028. Within a year of operation, the business managed to acquire a double-pass rice mill in addition to their existing single-pass milling machine. However, the equipment became idle due to high operating costs and inefficient performance that led to low recovery rates and less rice polishing flexibility.

Recognizing the challenge of the growing demand for higher recovery rates and improved rice quality, the business took a step to elevate the milling capabilities of the rice mill to better serve the farmers and other clientele.

According to DOST - Surigao del Sur Dir. Lim, it was during the first quarter of 2023 when the Erlinda Rice Mill formally applied for the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program Innovation-Enabling Fund (SETUP iFUND), an assistance program offered by DOST.

After a thorough review, the approval signaled for the awarding of the amount based on the proposed project for implementation so the rice mill can provide their customers with quality product while optimizing the production process as soon the equipment becomes functional and operational.

Meanwhile, SETUP is a nationwide strategy to motivate and empower MSMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness. It provides them with equipment and technical assistance to increase sales and production, streamline and improve overall company operations, upgrade the quality of products and services, conform to national and international standards of excellence, and be competitive in their respective fields.  (NGPB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)