IN a bid to spur countryside development, the Technology Resource Center (TRC) has asked local and foreign investors, who wish to set-up, or expand their business operations, to relocate to nearby provinces.

TRC Director General Dennis Cunanan said that in doing so, investors could reduce their costs and subsequently improve their bottom line.

He said that in contribution to countryside development, the center manages eight TechnoCenters (TCs) located in various parts of central Luzon particularly in the provinces of Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac and Zambales.

“The TCs help stimulate economic activities in its locales by generating fresh jobs, which in turn bring other economic benefits,” he added.

The TechnoCenters offer affordable office spaces, warehousing and production areas for small to medium-sized enterprises.

Cunanan also said that the Resource center has been empowering local government units in delivering the services to its constituents through its Technology and Livelihood Development Centers (TLDC).

The TLDC package includes center-backed livelihood development services that match the socio-economic plan of the client local government

It also includes a TRC Technovan equipped with audio-visual facilities designed for delivery of popular technology to remote and marginalized communities.

He said that the Resource center, which is the marketing arm of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is also “engaging more into technology commercialization.”

“Kung may bagong kaalaman at teknolohiya na susuportahan ng [If there will be new technology that should be supported by the] DOST, we will try to roll that out in the market and see if there are takers to use it,” he added.

Cunanan also said that the center also manages what it called as the Technology Business Incubation facility for Information Technology people, wherein they encourage the youth to make use of their entrepreneurial skills.

“Our youths have bright ideas but they don’t have the capital and commercial market so we are housing them there for three years until they can fly out in the open and stand on their own,” he said.

He said that instead of getting employed, the Filipino youths are being taught on how to be entrepreneurs.

“We are encouraging them to be the employers themselves. They have the potential of succeeding but they don’t have the commercial capacity to compete. So that’s where we come in,” he added.

Under Cunanan’s leadership, the center is also venturing into the development of good researches.

“May magagandang researches pero inaamag lang sa [There are a lot of good researches but they are just being shelved in the] library. What we are asking is bring out this in the open and let’s see if we can roll it out and make business out of it,” he said.