NORTH COTABATO PROVINCE – Regional Director Engr. Sammy Malawan has reiterated commitment of DOST XII to continuously render appropriate S&T programs, projects and services to identified ELCAC-barangays in the region.
ELCAC or End Local Communist Armed Conflict is a nationwide government plan under Executive Order 70 or the Whole-of-the-Nation Approach which aims to address identified issues of conflict-affected communities.
For this year, in North Cotabato alone, 41 more barangays are scheduled to receive collective assistance from various agencies and units of the government through the leadership of Governor Nancy Catamco, Chairperson of the Provincial Task Force (PTF)-ELCAC.
Last year, DOST XII participated to NAC-LSC activities (Nagkakaisang Adhikain para sa Cotabateños- Lokal Serbisyo Caravan) wherein initial S&T interventions were provided to some of the 36-identified barangays.
Scheduled to continue this week, NAC Caravan for 2021 is set to commence at Banayal, Tulunan.
According to Provincial Director Michael Mayo, DOST XII-Cotabato Provincial Office is ready to serve and bring the benefits of science and technology closer to the people in the countryside most especially to GIDAS and conflict-affected communities.
PD Mayo confirmed during PTF-ELCAC Meeting last February 17 at the Provincial Capitol that DOST XII will provide STARBOOKS (Science and technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Stations); school bags and school supplies; assistance to students to potentially avail DOST scholarship programs; and, provision of technologies for livelihood in the form of equipment, consultancy services as well as techno-trainings.
The National Task Force-ELCAC has allotted P20 Million worth projects for each insurgency-cleared barangay. Eligible projects for the said amount, as per the provincial task force, include the following: farm to market roads; school buildings and health stations; water and sanitation system; reconstruction, rehabilitation and repair of other similar projects in connection with the occurrence of natural or human-induced calamities, epidemics, crises resulting from armed conflicts, insurgency, terrorism and other catastrophes; housing and rural electrification; COVID 19 vaccination, immunization and other health related projects; agricultural, livelihood and technical vocational training/ projects; assistance to indigenous individuals or families in any of the following forms of assistance: (a) medical; (b) burial; (c) transportation; (d) food; (e) cash for work; and (f) education. ###
Source: https://www.facebook.com/dost12cotabatoprovince/posts/731961317491964
