DOST brings S&T projects to 3 ELCAC brgys in Bontoc

STARBOOKS

By Carlito C. Dar

BONTOC, Mountain Province, May 11 (PIA) – – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST – CAR) through its Provincial S&T Center here has partnered with the local government unit and community stakeholders for Community Empowerment through Science and Technology(CEST) program in three identified End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC ) barangays in this municipality.

DOST Provincial S&T Center Director Alfonso Berto and Mayor Franklin Odsey led other stakeholders in the memorandum of agreement signing at the Municipal Hall on Monday (May 10) for the project dubbed “S&T Intervention for CTG – Affected Areas in Bontoc, Mountain Province”, which will primarily benefit barangays Dalican, Guina-ang and Mainit.

The DOST – CEST project aims to develop sustainable livelihood program, bring in human resource development, help in water and sanitation and enhance access to S&T information to the three barangay beneficiaries that are remotely situated, mostly dependent on farming and agri – business and dependent on wells and springs for their water supply.

DOST will help in the establishment of Muscovado (sugarcane sugar) Processing Center for Darlic Irrigators Association of Dalican and a Meat Processing Center for Vinnachang Mainit PWD Organization, as well as technical, entrepreneurship, value adding and marketing trainings.

To improve access to S&T information for the children and youth in the barangays, the project also includes provision of the DOST STARBOOKS digital library to the elementary school in each of the barangay beneficiaries, as well as the needed training for its operation.

To help in water and sanitation, DOST Ceramic Water Filters will be distributed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries -52 in Mainit, 43 in Dalican and 65 in Guina-ang.

DOST – CAR Regional Director Nancy Bantog, in a statement, affirmed their Agency’s commitment in joining the other government agencies in espousing the whole – of – the – government approach to end local communist armed conflict.

“On our part, we maximize our resources to bring science for the people, to these ELCAC/CTG- affected areas through S&T programs. We, at the regional office and DOST provincial centers, are putting all our efforts to deliver the S&T interventions to these communities amidst the setbacks of this COVID – 19 pandemic. We wish our partners good luck as we heal and recover as one,” Bantog said. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)

Source: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1074887?fbclid=IwAR2R_Zy91Cv0XCqx61gnVV0e_ZzvIaIXnI4xrLAdlVLSezZ3Ij81ecSPAis