Special interest in furniture making even at his young age and the experience gained in TESDA furniture training-courses, Mr. Rene Hapona established his furniture shop in 2007 with a very small capitalization, named “Rene Woodcraft and Furniture”, situated at Sta. Clara, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
True to his great hands in woodcraft, Mr. Hapona was recognized as best TESDA alumni in TESDA nationwide search. Mr. Hapona envisioned to expand market coverage in the next five years throughout the region, and further penetrate the export market in the next ten years. Currently, the firm produces various designs of wood panel doors, French windows, bed frames, dining set, sala set, office furnitures, cabinets, mouldings, balusters and other woods products.
To attain their vision, Mr. Hapona sought the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology through the Small Enterprise Technology and Upgrading Program (DOST-SETUP), after attending the SETUP Orientation conducted by the DOST Regional Office No. IX. The DOST Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Zamboanga Sibugay then conducted the Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) to determine the technology gaps of the firm. After careful evaluation of the project proposal, the Regional Technical Evaluation Committee (RTEC) then recommended the DOST-IX’s innovation support assistance amounting to Six Hundred Fifty Eight Thousand Pesos (P658,500.00). The amount will cover the purchase of latest carpentry tools and equipment such as table saw, table planer, moulding machine, spindle moulder, sliding compound miter saw, scroll saw, band saw, sliding panel saw and jointer plane. In addition, DOST IX through experts from Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) will also provide technical training on wood treatment and finishing; and technical consultancy on proper plant design and layout.
With DOST-IX innovation support, the firm is expected to increase productivity by 50 %; enhance quality of furniture products; decrease rejects and back jobs on repairing cracks by at least 80%; penetrated new markets; and employ at least two (2) additional workers.
SETUP, a flagship program of DOST, is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in implementing technological innovations and improvements in their operations to boost their productivity and competitiveness.
For more information, interested parties may visit or call DOST-Regional Office IX, Pettit Barracks, Zamboanga City with telephone numbers (062) 991-1024; the Provincial S&T Center (PSTC) in Upper Turno, Dipolog City, telephone numbers (065) 212-2244; Provincial S&T Center (PSTC) in Rizal Avenue, Pagadian City with telephone number (062) 925-1152; and the Provincial S&T Center (PSTC) at 2/F Faundo Bldg., National Highway, Poblacion, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay with telephone numbers (062) 333-2793 . (DOST-IX Press Release)
