With the recently availed consultancy services from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Cagayan de Oro’s famous Josephus Boneless Lechon acquires License to Operate (LTO) and expands business opportunities in the city.
The firm has recently been assisted by the agency in its application to the mandatory license from the Food and Drug Administration. This is a continuous assistance under the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program (MPEX). This program provides assistance to the drafting of the firm’s Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) and Good Manufacturing Practices Manuals. These manuals are among the major requirements for the FDA-LTO application. The firm’s production facility has also been enhanced in compliance to the FDA’s standards and to boost efficiency in the working area.
DOST also provided free food safety trainings to the firm’s workforce.
Another achievement unlocked by the firm is the acquisition of trademark registration to their company’s logo, achieved through the SciTech SuperHighway program of the agency.
Josephus Lechon Belly first availed the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) through DOST Misamis Oriental in 2021. The SETUP intervention mechanized the process of the firm through the acquisition of various equipment that streamlined the production of their lechon powder premixes, grilled lechon belly, and crispy pork rind or what they fondly call as hinilisan.
In addition to the streamlined process, they have improved product quality, consistency, and competitiveness. The firm also availed of the moisture analysis of 9 samples and DOST ITDI packaging to improve their packaging for the lechon belly. With the S&T intervention, the firm is expected to improve their productivity by at least 4% and increase their production volume by at least 30%.
Josephus Lechon Belly is a family-owned business which started in 2014 and managed by the spouses Mr. Joseph Khio and Mrs. Susan Khio. The couple expressed their gratitude to DOST for the generous assistance they received. They said that through DOST, they felt the support of the government. This kind of assistance could significantly improve and build the MSME sector in our economy. They wished for the government to pour significant resources to DOST to widen its reach and help expand the micro and small enterprises – the backbone of the Philippine economy. (Nova Belle C. Calotes/DOST10)
PHOTO: Owners Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Khio with DOST Misamis Oriental staff, Ms. Joanna Magto, discussing their firm’s growth since acquiring the equipment provided through the SETUP program, during the project monitoring of the agency.
