Maguindanao, BARMM — The Ministry of Science and Technology – Provincial S & T Center on March 21-23, 2023, conducted stakeholders meeting and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing for ten cooperatives.

MOST Bangsamoro Director-General Engr. Abdulrakman Asim led the MOA signing, and OIC-PSTC Director Engr. Yasser Datucali. Other Regional and Provincial personnel also facilitated the stakeholder meeting.

The ten cooperatives which are beneficiaries under Science and Technology Services of 2022 and 2023 were Sigay Nu Mga Babay Association (Muslim Delicacies), Yjm Farm (Cassava Flour), Polcom Matuber Agri Product And Marketing Cooperative (Dried Fish), Masabar Agricultural Farm Producers’ Cooperative (Maguindanaon Delicacies), Yantakoz Delicacies Store (Palapa w/ Sakurab), Mirmens Noodle Factory (Noodles), Chozaidz Food Products (Coffee), Au Bakat Farmers Marketing Cooperative (Cocoa Powder), Badak Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Meat Processing), and Mapayag Women Association (Smoke Fish).

The coops mentioned above, which are existing firms, would benefit from the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Program, which includes Values Transformation Training, Food Safety and Halal Awareness Training, Provision of Processing Equipment, Production Area Upgrades, Product Packaging and Labelling, and other assistance in the attainment of product standards such as FDA License to Operate and Halal Testing and Analysis. On the other hand, those starting firms would benefit from Bangsamoro Empowerment through the Science and Technology (BEST) program, which includes training and provision of equipment.

Bai Ali Ebrahim, Yantakoz Delicacies Store Owner, said they were hopeful of the technology intervention from MOST to improve their production lines and competitiveness in the market.

“We started from small amount, and Alhamdulillah with that small amount kinaya naming paikutin at nagkaprofit, with the help of the MOST soon, starting today baka hindi na lang sa mga usual customers, karatig municipalities nalang ang marating ng aming produkto, baka internationally ay makapagdisplay na din kami. Makakaproduce na din kami ng maramihan with the support pa din ng MOST through the equipment and machineries.” Ebrahim said.

[“We started from a small amount, and Alhamdulillah with that small amount we were able to turn it around and make a profit, with the help of the MOST soon, starting today maybe our product will not only reach the usual customers, neighboring municipalities, maybe internationally we can also display. We will also be able to produce in bulk with the support of MOST through the equipment and machinery.”]

“Isa pong malaking karangalan na mapabilang sa beneficiary ng MOST, kami po ay grupo ng mga babae na nagkaisa at nakabuo ng mga produkto sa tulong ng kabi-kabilang trainings na natanggap namin sa different agencies. At sa ngayon po Alhamdulillah, napabilang na din kami sa MOST, ang amin pong mano-mano na pag gawa ng aming produkto ay mas mapapabilis na at makakapagdisplay na din kami sa mga malls.” Guiamelan Sayutin, President – Sigay nu mga Babay Association said.

[It is a great honor to be among the beneficiaries of MOST. We are a group of women who united and developed products with the help of the various trainings we received from different agencies. And now, Alhamdulillah, we have also been included in MOST, our manual production of our product will be faster, and we will be able to display it in malls.]

MOST aimed to support micro, small, and medium enterprises in the Bangsamoro region through S & T intervention to improve their products, services, and operations to increase their productivity and competitiveness in the market.

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