06/08/2026
DOST-8 Samar PSTO Conducts Facility and Equipment Inspection at Mare-E-Monte Restaurant
Catbalogan City, Samar — The Department of Science and Technology Region VIII – Samar Provincial Science and Technology Office (DOST-8 Samar PSTO) conducted a facility and equipment inspection at Mare-E-Monte Restaurant, a beneficiary of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), in Catbalogan City, Samar.
The inspection team was led by Engr. Joseph Albert O. Lledo, together with Engr. Allaine A. Pulma and Ms. Renalyn L. Costo. The team was welcomed and accompanied throughout the inspection by Ms. Lourdes T. Singzon, owner of Mare-E-Monte Restaurant, who personally presented the facility and demonstrated the equipment acquired through DOST-8’s SETUP assistance.
The inspection provided an opportunity to assess the actual condition, utilization, and operational status of the equipment, as well as to determine how the technology intervention has contributed to the restaurant’s production and business operations. The team also discussed with the proponent the proper use, maintenance, and sustainability of the equipment to ensure that the assistance provided continues to generate meaningful benefits for the enterprise.
The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) is one of the flagship technology assistance programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) designed to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) improve their productivity, product quality, efficiency, and competitiveness through the adoption and upgrading of appropriate technologies.
Through SETUP, qualified enterprises may receive assistance such as technology and equipment acquisition, technical consultancy, testing and calibration, packaging and labeling assistance, product development, and other forms of technical support suited to their business needs.
More than simply providing equipment, SETUP seeks to enable MSMEs to upgrade their production capabilities, improve their processes, increase productivity, enhance product quality, and become more competitive in the market.
For Mare-E-Monte Restaurant, the equipment acquired through SETUP represents an investment in improving its operational capabilities and strengthening its capacity to provide quality products and services to its customers.
The facility and equipment inspection is part of DOST-8 Samar PSTO’s continuing effort to monitor, evaluate, and provide appropriate technical assistance to SETUP beneficiaries. Regular monitoring ensures that government-supported technologies are properly utilized, maintained, and translated into tangible improvements in enterprise operations.
The visit also emphasizes the importance of sustained collaboration between DOST and local MSMEs. By combining technology, innovation, technical expertise, and entrepreneurial initiative, enterprises like Mare-E-Monte Restaurant can continue to grow and contribute to the local economy.
DOST-8 Samar PSTO remains committed to bringing science, technology, and innovation closer to Samar’s MSMEs, helping them transform technological opportunities into productive enterprises and sustainable sources of livelihood.