By Minerva BC Newman Siquijor – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Siquijor province pushes to increase its technical assistance to the Island’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) director, Engr. Mario de la Pena said MSMEs need technical assistance in terms of technology upgrading, needs assessment, appropriate product packaging and labelling, laboratory analysis and the like. SETUP De la Pena added that this year,  DOST-Siquijor and PSTC aims to reach out to more qualified MSMEs to avail of its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). DOST’s SETUP program is aimed at empowering MSMEs to improve productivity and efficiency by adopting technological innovations to improve products, services and business operations. According to DOST-Siquijor information officer Engr. Reinhold Abing, as of October 2017, the agency had assisted eight MSMEs at a cost of over P3.9 million. This year, DOST wants to surpass that amount. Scholarships Abing added that one of the major programs of DOST is its Science Education Institute (SEI) which accepts yearly applications for undergraduate scholarships. He said this year, DOST-Siquijor aims to have at least two passers per town or 12 scholars for the province. Mango farming Another major focus of DOST-Siquijor is mango farming, which has been its priority sector for the tech consultancy for agricultural productivity. Integrated farming is gaining popularity in the province because of the growing demand of resorts and restaurant owners for locally grown vegetables, fruits and other produce, Abing said. DOST-Siquijor continues to assist SETUP clients and other tech-consultancy programs including energy audit, cleaner production and food safety, Abing said. Education, STARBOOKS In terms of assistance to education, DOST’s STARBOOKS program has been gaining grounds in the public schools. The agency wants to increase the S&T library book holdings by adding STARBOOKS sites in the province. Abing reported they have identified five secondary schools to be given one set of STARBOOKS for their respective libraries. The agency has already received a proposal for funding from the DepED Division of Siquijor, he added. Climate change and other S&T research programs In the wake of last year's successful conduct of Climate Science Youth Camp 2017, de la Peña bared that this year, the Climate Science Youth Camp will be bigger and more exciting. De la Pena said attendees will be coming from provinces in the Visayas region and some parts of Mindanao and more interactive activities with scientists are planned for the camp. CODAR The Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar or CODAR was recently installed in Bogo, Maria, Siquijor and more similar equipment will be installed in the San Juan area as planned years ago, De la Pena added. To boost the health care capability of local health care providers De la Pena reported DOST has rolled out RxBox research program in identified rural health centers in Siquijor. Hi-tech healthcare RxBox research program aims to develop a locally-manufactured, medical-grade telemedicine device and demonstrate its usefulness in target rural health units or local health centers in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas/municipalities nationwide, de la Pena explained. According to him, Siquijor State College, through the endorsement and support of Siquijor PSTC and DOST-7 submitted this year another proposal for funding from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of DOST. If approved, it will be the third phase of the research which aims to document the folk healing practices particularly within the area in Lazi municipality where Señora River is located.