By Monette H. Herrera
DOST
Close
to eastern part of Pangasinan province is
the first class municipality of Sta. Barbara where capable residents of Brgy.
Malanay has thrived to be one of the community’s cost-effective assets.
It was the “Long Live Pharma”
where Racky D. Doctor, 26 years-old then, started the production of water
disinfectant (hyposol/waterine) to purify water safe for human
consumption.
How it all began
Way back in 1997, Mr. Doctor started the operation of Long
Live Pharma and production of hyposol with an initial capitalization of
P20,000. Hyposol is a simple water treatment technology or a 1.25% sodium
hypochlorite solution packed in 100 ml plastic bottle good in purifying 20
liters of raw water. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry
in 2010. Most of its products are distributed in regions 1, 2 and 3 along with
its market linkages to include Department of Health (DOH), World Health
Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Comes DOST
The succeeding years were a steady flow of income from Long
Live Pharma. However, due to the increase in demand for hyposol, the company
cannot respond to the needs of DOH, WHO and UNICEF. This situation prompted the
company to transfer to a new site and put a new production plant. The firm also
needed to upgrade its packaging facility to increase volume of production
thereby meeting demands. In 2009, the Long Live Pharma sought the assistance of
DOST-Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). SETUP is a
nationwide strategy of the DOST aimed to encourage and assist micro, small and
medium enterprises to adopt technological interventions to improve their
products, services, operations and increase their productivity and
competitiveness.
Long Live Pharma and SETUP
SETUP has tied-up with Long
Live Pharma. By then, the DOST has evaluated the company’s response to the
given requirements. Along the process, DOST 1 provided Long Live Pharma with an
automatic vertical form fill seal machine and an ink jet printer for hyposol
production.
Building on the momentum
The DOST-SETUP interventions enabled the firm to have more
accurate filling and sealing ensuring product quality in the production. Also,
production cost of the hyposol per bottle was reduced, from P45 to P43.
Mechanization also brought lesser contamination due to human handling in
filling and capping.
During the onslaught of super
typhoon Yolanda, the availability of potable water in Samar and Tacloban was a
major concern since drinking water systems were damaged. The DOH, DSWD, local
government units and non-government organizations looked for ways to provide
the basic need for potable water for those who were devastated by the
typhoon.
Long Live Pharma ably
responded to the needs through the just-in-time production of hyposol. About
one million bottles of hyposol were distributed in central Visayas region. Thru
the use of Hyposol, the spread of water-borne diseases like diarrhea among
Samareños was prevented. On the business
side, the sales generated by hyposol distribution helped the Doctors to setup
another technology-based line of business.
In 2014 the owner organized a
family corporation named Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation, a
subsidiary of Long Live Pharma, which was registered with the Security Exchange
Commission. Nutridense handles the food
product component of the business to produce commercially available innovative
and research based products aiming to alleviate malnutrition incidence in the
country. The offer came from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)
of the DOST. Among the products, is a snack item for children 2 years old and
above and a food blend for babies 6 to 24 months old, both made from rice and
mongo grains. The project was part of DOST’s science and technology-based
intervention program to address malnutrition among children in the country.
“They were talking about the
big need for entrepreneurs to help solve malnutrition in the country. I saw the
need for participation. And since I was passionate about making new products,
especially food, I grabbed that opportunity, Doctor also said.
The DOST was indeed,
instrumental for financial and technical help in fully automating production.
“We now have the facility to answer every demand of the market. We benchmark with international
standards. We are also compliant with
Clean and Green Manufacturing Practices, including 5S housekeeping”, Mr. Doctor
said.
Social Responsibility
Mr. Doctor stressed that the assistance of DOST and
availability of hyposol during Yolanda had a great impact in their lives
because of high volume of sales with 45% growth, increase of production which
added 75 personnel and more significantly expansion of the company. Long Live
Pharma’s growth is a testimonial not only to the Doctors’ enterprising spirit
but also to the advantages of asking help where help is available.
Plans
THROUGH the different
opportunities given by the Long Live Pharma, still the firm is looking forward
to strengthen its expansion process and collaborations with all partner
agencies towards helping people concerned in the country.
“I am really grateful to DOST
for the granting us SETUP and providing professional assistance for our staff,”
Mr. Doctor added.
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