Dinagat Islands’ local welding shop thrives with DOST’s SETUP aid
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — With the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), Osiang Welding Shop has enhanced its facility, adopted advanced welding technologies, and developed a self-invented reboring machine, proving how local businesses can thrive with the right guidance and support.
Former overseas Filipino worker Randy Osiang returned home with a mission and goal to make a living, share his skills and expertise, and create jobs for his community.
In June 2017, the Osiang Welding Shop started to operate in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Loreto in Dinagat Islands. Together with wife Ivy, the couple with a meager capital of P20,000 tried to manage and sustain the welding and fabrication business.
Osiang recalled the day when DOST Dinagat Islands visited his shop and discussed the SETUP. “When DOST talked to me and shared the program, I saw the sincerity and their willingness to help me improve my business, especially in purchasing more advanced and essential equipment.”
“I am thankful to DOST for choosing my business as beneficiary of the SETUP through the provision of modern equipment,” he said. “I also underwent training on how to operate the machines, including literacy on how to better run the business.”
“I hired locals in my place who were trained by TESDA on welding skills and helped them earn a humble income. This is my way of returning the gratitude to the government for the guidance and support to grow and sustain my business,” Osiang added.
He also shared that with the training and new equipment from DOST, his clientele has increased, including the productivity of the welding shop. “Our income has increased to 45 percent and the shop now provides precise and high-quality services.”Osiang also shared that his welding shop was hailed as the winner of the 2025 DOST–SETUP PRAISE (Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence) in the province of Dinagat Islands.
Meanwhile, DOST’s SETUP is the department’s flagship program to address the needs and requirements of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to promote innovation through technological advancement. Under the Innovation Fund (iFund), the program aims to provide modern equipment, process improvements, and technical support to help MSMEs boost productivity, ensure quality, and strengthen competitiveness in both local and global markets.
DOST Dinagat Islands has been proactive in making the SETUP accessible and inclusive through the conduct of SETUP forum to broaden the understanding of MSMEs on the program and empower them to embrace innovation and adopt appropriate technologies. It is strategically designed to cultivate and reinforce collaborative partnerships among all stakeholders committed to the MSME sector, ensuring that they receive the holistic and coordinated assistance necessary to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable development. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DOST Dinagat Islands)
