By Henry Lito Tacio

TUGUEGARAO CITY — In a region where small food ventures often struggle to scale, one siomai maker from Tuao, Cagayan, has emerged as a standout story of grit, innovation, and science‑driven transformation.

Fresh off the steamer, K&K Food Products was among the featured beneficiaries under the Department of Science and Technology’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) during the recent Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week held in Tuguegarao City — showcasing how a humble home business can rise to become a thriving enterprise with the right technological push.

Steamed, sometimes fried, often paired with rice — siomai is a familiar comfort food for many Filipinos. But for Mary Chris E. Purpura, siomai became more than a meal; it became the foundation of a livelihood that would eventually uplift her family and community. What began as a home‑based venture in 2013 has grown into K&K Food Products, now one of Cagayan’s most active producers of ready‑to‑eat and ready‑to‑cook meals.

Chris recalls how she and her husband started experimenting with siomai recipes while building their young family. They worked through countless trials, adjusting size, firmness, and flavor until they perfected a product that resonated with local customers. The business steadily gained traction, but it was during the COVID‑19 pandemic — when demand for convenient food surged — that K&K experienced its biggest turning point.

However, growth came with challenges. “Mayroon lang kaming walong empleyado, tapos lahat ng proseso, manual naming ginagawa,” Chris shared. “Hindi na namin ma‑supply‑an ang demand ng customers namin.” With limited manpower and manual production methods, the business struggled to keep pace with rising orders.

This gap opened the door for the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which introduced K&K to the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). The program aims to help micro, small, and medium‑sized enterprises improve productivity through technological interventions, equipment upgrading, and capacity‑building.

Through SETUP, K&K Food Products received modern production equipment such as a molo wrapper machine, meat grinder and mixer, sausage stuffer, and vacuum sealer. The assistance — amounting to ₱6.7 million across three phases — also included facility improvements and training on good manufacturing practices, labeling, packaging, and business expansion orientation.

“Nagbigay din po sila ng training sa good manufacturing practices, labeling, packaging, and business expansion. Halos lahat na po in‑offer ng DOST para lang makatulong sa amin,” Chris said, emphasizing how the support went beyond machinery and extended to knowledge‑building.

The impact was immediate and transformative. From eight employees, K&K now employs 32 workers — excluding those working under its 32 franchise outlets. The business currently offers 36 products, ranging from siomai variants to longganisa, sausages, and other frozen ready‑to‑cook meals. Their franchises, equipped with custom‑built kiosks, carts, and collapsible stalls, have expanded their reach to Tuguegarao, Solana, and even parts of Apayao Province.

“Nakapag‑hire kami ng maraming empleyado. Nakapagbigay kami ng trabaho, lalo na dito po sa aming komunidad sa Tuao,” Chris shared. The enterprise’s growth has not only boosted local employment but also strengthened the food supply chain in the area.

Financially, the leap has been remarkable. Before SETUP, K&K earned around ₱180,000 monthly. Today, their monthly income has surged to ₱2 million — a more than tenfold increase. The business also embraced renewable energy through SETUP support, shifting to solar‑powered operations. This reduced their electricity expenses from ₱50,000 to ₱23,000 monthly, allowing them to reinvest savings into further expansion.

“Napakalaking tulong po ng SETUP sa aming mga maliliit na negosyante para mapabuti ang aming negosyo at makagawa kami ng mas marami at mas magagandang produkto. Kailangan namin ng teknolohiya, at iyan ang ibinibigay ng SETUP,” Chris emphasized.

With stronger production capacity, improved product quality, and expanded market reach, K&K Food Products is now preparing for its next big step: entering supermarkets, partnering with regional resellers, and further expanding its franchise network. Chris hopes that their siomai — and other products — will soon become household staples across the region.

The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) remains one of DOST’s flagship initiatives, anchored on four strategic pillars: human well‑being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars reflect the agency’s mantra, OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All, underscoring its commitment to inclusive innovation.

As K&K Food Products continues to rise, its story stands as a testament to how science, technology, and determination can reshape local enterprises. From a small kitchen in Tuao to a growing network of franchises, the business proves that with the right support, even the simplest products — like siomai — can spark big opportunities. (PR)

Photo Captions

Store photo

Fresh from the steamer, K&K Food Products was among the featured beneficiaries under the DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), showcased during the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in Tuguegarao City.

Siomai photo

Sample siomai variants produced by K&K Food Products.