by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (17 October) -- A mobile laboratory has been conceived to bring the services to where it is needed mostly by entrepreneurs.

Juan Evangelio Jr., chief of the technical services of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST XI) in an interview after the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City said the project is in partnership with SDC Asia whose fund source is access from the European Union.

Evangelio said the mobile laboratory will bring to the different areas of the Davao Region laboratory tests most of which are on food safety.

With a project cost of about P2.4 million, he said the P400,000 was SDC Asia's share for the acquisition of the vehicle that was designed purposely for the mobile lab services and the P2 million for DOST to acquire the equipment.

Evangelio said this is the first in the Philippines and its objective is to assist producers who have to travel far just to have their products tested.

He said the mobile laboratory is accompanied by a chemist and a microbiologist of the DOST but would be devolved to the private group who will have to provide their own personnel.

"We hope to have the mobile laboratory go places before the year ends in Davao City," he said.

The schedule of testing will also be programmed and scheduling is coordinated with the local government units.

He also said that since food producers who engage in export are required certification on food safety, the mobile lab is ideal to go to the production site to make test fast and allow the product shorter waiting time before shipment to its destination to the international market.

Primarily the mobile lab is to provide accessibility of producers to testing centers, he said.

"With available services like this it would encouraged businessmen to expand their businesses because of the support given to them", he said.