Empowering MSMEs Through Science and Innovation: QCertified Program Celebrates Second Batch of Graduates

Quantum Skyview, Gateway Araneta City, July 10, 2025 — In a proud moment of recognition and achievement, the second batch of graduates from the QCertified: FDA Product Registration and Licensing Assistance Roadmap Program were formally honored during the Quezon City MSME Week 2025. The event marked a significant milestone in the journey of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) striving for excellence and compliance in the food and health product sectors.  

The QCertified program is a collaborative initiative among key institutions: the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development Promotions Office, DOST-National Capital Region, DTI-National Capital Region, Food and Drug Administration Philippines, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – FPTC Sta. Mesa Manila Campus. It aims to guide MSMEs through the often complex processes of securing a License to Operate (LTO) and a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) from the FDA.  

Through the DOST-NCR PAMAMAZON Cluster and Food Safety Unit, participants received essential technical training covering critical areas such as 5S productivity improvement, food safety hazards and basic food hygiene, thermal processing and food additives, mandatory labeling requirements, packaging and labeling consultations, and writeshops on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).  

These capacity-building efforts were designed to help entrepreneurs raise the standards of their operations, meet regulatory compliance, and become more competitive in local and global markets.  

During the recognition ceremony, Ms. Blaise Mansueto of DOST-NCR commended the graduates for their determination and commitment. She underscored the importance of science, technology, and innovation in empowering MSMEs, emphasizing that these tools should be made accessible to all—especially grassroots entrepreneurs.  

“You are more equipped to compete—and to thrive. Opportunities are within reach as long as we take the initiative, comply with the requirements, and stay open to learning and collaboration,” Ms. Mansueto shared.  

She also encouraged graduates and other MSMEs to explore DOST programs like SETUP (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program), which offers practical support for technology upgrading, technical consultancy, and business scaling.  

The graduation event highlighted not just the completion of a training program but the start of a new chapter for local MSMEs—one where they are better prepared to bring safe, quality products to market, compete with confidence, and pursue sustainable growth.  

As the nation continues to champion inclusive innovation, initiatives like QCertified serve as a model of how public-private collaboration can uplift communities and nurture entrepreneurship from the ground up.  

By Blaise Mansueto