DOST-Bukidnon empowers disadvantaged areas in Talakag, grants P2.8M sci-tech project funds
DOST-Bukidnon, through the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program, recently granted P2.8M science and technology project funds to the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in Talakag, Bukidnon. CEST is ne of the nationwide flagship programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that provides assistance to marginalized communities to provide them with their basic needs, improve their livelihood, and promote well-being.
The agency will implement a total of six projects that include various science and technology interventions. DOST-Bukidnon will distribute Ceramic Water Filters to communities that lack drinking water, install two Automatic Rain Gauges to flood-prone areas, and provide a Plastic Densifier and Shredder for better solid waste management.
The project also includes deployment of six units of Science and Technology Academic Research-Based Openly Operated KioskS (STARBOOKS) units to the community. STARBOOKS is a stand-alone digital library-in-a-box designed to help students in the grassroots gain access to thousands of up-to-date S&T learning materials.
Furthermore, the roll-out of the Malnutrition Reduction Program (MRP) has an allocated funding as well. Through the MRP, undernourished children ages 6-59 months will be given the nutrient-rich Bigas-Monggosor Big-Mofor a period of 120 days. Big-Mo is a food technology developed by the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). It contains 130 Kcal (energy) and four grams of protein per 30 grams serving portion - enough to meet the 18% of recommended energy and 28.6% of the recommended protein intake for children 6 months to less than 59months old.
To boost the community livelihood initiatives of Talakag, a group of marginalized coffee farmers in the Miarayon area will also receive a complete set of food-grade equipment, training, and assistance to acquire a License to Operate from the Food and Drug Administration.
Moreover, another set of projects is to be turned over to LGU-Talakag by the end of the second quarter this year for more S&T interventions particularly for the Indigenous Peoples, women, children, and farmers.
The DOST-CEST program is dedicated to ending poverty, especially to GIDA communities and identified conflict-driven areas through five key entry points: Health, Human Resource Development, Livelihood and Economic Development, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Environmental Protection.
For more information about CEST and other DOST programs, interested parties may visit the DOST-Bukidnon office at Vicente Neri St., Malaybalay City (with StaySafe.ph app R code), or email bukidnon@region10.dost.gov.ph, or call 088-813-5463, 09564068669. (NBCalotes/DOST Bukidnon). Inquiries may also be sent to Julie Anne H. Baculio, Science Research Specialist I (stpromotions@region10.dost.gov.ph, 0917-709-3706) of DOST Region X.
