THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has helped improve the packaging and labels of 10 food processors in San Enrique.
DTI-Negros Occidental Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Engiemar Tupas, who led the distribution of packaging and labeling materials at San Enrique Municipal Hall on Tuesday, July 10, said most of the food processors of the locality still have crude packaging and labels.
Tupas said these small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are contented with using any available materials like plastic, making the products look unpresentable.
“We see the need to improve their products to increase the marketability,” he said, adding that “they have good products, however, these need to improve in terms of labels and packaging.”
DTI-Negros Occidental funded the purchase of packaging and labeling materials using its 2017 budget while the DOST made the designs.
Each of the food processors received 10 packs of packaging materials, at 1,000 pieces per pack, and 100 pieces of labeling materials.
Once fully utilized, recipient-SMEs may reproduce the materials using the designs provided by two agencies.
The initial recipients from part of about 30 food processors in San Enrique, whom the DTI is planning to organize into an association.
Tupas said Mayor Jilson Tubillara, who was present during the distribution, has expressed support especially in terms of an additional fund to eventually cover all food processors in the locality.
“For this year, we will be covering more entrepreneurs in terms of improving their packaging and labels with the assistance of the local government unit,” Tupas said, adding that the initiative has been initiated by the DTI and DOST since before and was able to benefit more SMEs in other localities in the province.
DTI-Negros Occidental, through the Negosyo Centers, plans to gather all other food processors in the province and help them acquire good packaging and labels.
Tupas said local producers should not be contented in selling their products within their respective municipality and city. They should expand their markets through one, improving first their packaging and labels.
“Good labels and packaging give SMEs market advantage,” he stressed, adding that the support of the government is of big help to the entrepreneurs as materials to be purchased would mean additional costs to them.