CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–With the newly acquired License to Operate (LTO) from the Food and Drug Administration, SG Business Ventures Inc., a woman-led enterprise, is now eyeing more business opportunities, including expansion of their e-nutribun production in more parts of Cagayan de Oro City and in neighboring cities and provinces.
The firm received the License to Operate, through the consultancy services of the Department of Science and Technology. This support included a writeshop on documentation for current good manufacturing practices, and quality Standard Sanitation Operating policies, plans and procedures. These documents are among the major requirements of the FDA.
In order to track its progress in putting its GMP and SOP guidelines into practice, the firm was also enrolled in the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program on which the firm received consultancy services from experts in having a standardized production process. DOST also helped the firm in obtaining its approved Trademark for the Bake O’ Clock logo. SGBVInc is also a recipient of the UV Light Germicidal Sterilizer from DOST to ensure the quality of products and a safe place for workers.
SG Business Ventures Inc. was also one of the finalists of the DOST-FIC Mind to market program on banana flour concept as a substitute for wheat flour on select pastry products. Its utility model application is also currently being processed. The firm is a beneficiary of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of DOST in 2020. Through the program, the firm was able to acquire numerous food-grade equipment for their pastries and for the adoption of DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s technology, the enhanced nutribun.
The firm has supplied ENutribun to the National Nutrition Council on their Tutok Kainan Feeding Program for Pregnant Women for the select municipalities in the province of Bukidnon. It also supplied ENutribun to the Province of Misamis Oriental for the feeding program of pregnant women in all the municipalities as well as supplying the demand of the Department of Education. SGBVInc. is now reaping the benefits of various DOST’s technical assistance and as a technology licensee in terms of increase in gross sales.
In a message, owner, Agnes Gonzales, expressed her thanks to the SETUP program that sustained their business even with the pandemic. “I believe that we have grown from our humble beginning of just one store to now four stores including a separate area for our Enhanced nutribun production site. Sales and productivity have significantly increased, thereby creating more jobs for the community in Barangays Indahag, Macasandig and Carmen areas. Thank you so much DOST, you have helped us sustain our business. We are forever grateful,” she said.
The FDA LTO is a license which must be secured in order for an establishment to manufacture, import, export, sell, and distribute food, medicines, cosmetics, health items, and other medical equipment.
