BUNAWAN, AGUSAN DEL SUR — A newly upgraded food processing facility at the Agusan del Sur State University (ADSSU) main campus is now open to micro, small, and medium enterprises, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs, following its formal launch on October 26, 2026. The Shared Service Facility (SSF) project, implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga with ADSSU as cooperator, is designed to remove a common barrier for small food producers: access to equipment that would otherwise be too costly to acquire individually.
Equipment That Covers the Production Chain
The facility, housed at the Center for Agri-Food Processing and Innovation (CAFPI) Building in San Teodoro, Bunawan, is equipped with machinery that supports multiple stages of food production. The lineup includes an industrial hammer mill, a food dehydrator, a band sealer, a meat grinder, a heavy-duty gas steamer, an automatic packaging machine, preparation tables, and storage shelving. Together, these tools allow users to move from raw material preparation and drying to grinding, steaming, sealing, and packaging within a single site.
A Formal Framework for Shared Use
The launch included the signing of a Usufruct Agreement between DTI and ADSSU, establishing the terms under which the university manages and operates the facility. The arrangement gives the university a formal mandate to maintain the equipment and coordinate its use by MSMEs, students, and researchers. During the event, DTI–Caraga Regional Director Gay A. Tidalgo stressed the importance of continuous product development and partnerships that connect research to market-ready goods, while ADSSU President Dr. Joy C. Capistrano expressed hope that the facility would drive innovation and contribute to the community's socioeconomic progress.
Beyond Equipment: Research and Commercialization
The project is not limited to production support. It is also intended to serve as a platform for research and product development, particularly for student-generated food concepts that may have commercial potential. DTI–Agusan del Sur Provincial Director Marson Jan S. Dolendo reminded the cooperator of its responsibility to properly manage the facility and encouraged the exploration of research-based products for market introduction. For local MSMEs like Alden Catubig, who has already used the facility, the practical benefit is faster production, better branding, and a stronger foothold for local food products in the market.
