Mc Nester Food Products, founded by Ms. Rebecca Castro Tubongbanua in August 2003, has become a local success story in Buenavista, Guimaras, producing calamansi and mango-based products. Despite humble beginnings, with an initial capital of seven thousand pesos (PhP 7,000.00), Ms. Tubongbanua,  as a skilled chemist, transformed her passion for food and science into a thriving business. She initially developed calamansi juice, calamansi concentrate, mango-calamansi juice, mango concentrate, and dried mango, among others. The company also pioneered mango ketchup and mango sauce production in Region VI and has diversified to other local commodities, such as dragon fruit, papaya, and squash.

Driven by the goal of upgrading the company’s production technology and meeting the growing customer demand, Ms. Tubongbanua decided to seek assistance from the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VI (DOST VI) through its Small Enterprise Upgrading Program Innovation-Enabling Fund (SETUP iFund). Through SETUP iFund, the company increased its production volume, improved its bottling and pasteurization process, enhanced food safety measures, upgraded from a micro to a small enterprise, and created employment opportunities.

Mc Nester Food Products has once again proven its excellence in innovation and resilience, earning recognition at both regional and national levels. During the 2024 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week on August 24, 2024, held at the University of Antique-Sibalom Campus, the company was recognized as the Regional Winner of the SETUP  PRAISE Award. Their success didn’t stop there. Representing the region on a national stage, Mc Nester Food Products emerged as a national finalist in the SETUP PRAISE Award during the 2024 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week held on November 28, 2024, in Cagayan de Oro City. The company secured the “Most Agile Award”, a recognition given to DOST’s SETUP beneficiaries that demonstrate remarkable adaptability and resilience in the face of industry challenges.

“Ang laki ng tulong ng DOST SETUP dahil nagkaroon kami ng magandang equipment na maka-produce ng quality products. Naging confident na kami ngayon sa pag-produce ng marami. Tumaas ang aming production volume to meet the customer demands, both local and international market demands. Marami rin kaming naging customers sa Facebook page ng Mc Nester. At sa ngayon we are in the process of registration sa Shopee. We are very happy at pinagmamalaki namin na we are FDA-approved. Sa tulong ng DOST SETUP, nag-avail kami ng equipment at mas napa-improve namin ang quality ng products. Dahil sa DOST SETUP, from micro enterprise to small enterprise, and we are very happy and hoping to become a medium enterprise. Thank you, DOST!” – Ms. Rebecca C. Tubongbanua, Owner of Mc Nester Food Products (LRInocencio/TTCS)