BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
SIQUIJOR, July 3 (PIA)—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST-7) in Central Visayas will empower the municipality of Enrique Villanueva with the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST).
DOST-7 OIC-assistant regional director Engr. Jesus Zamora, Jr. handed Php 410,000-worth check to municipal mayor Gerold Pal-ing of Enrique Villanueva town as Grant-in-Aid thru CEST.
The fund will be used as counterpart salaries and wages of LGU staff, honoraria of team members, maintenance and operating expenses, and as capital outlay to purchase necessary equipments for disaster preparedness.
CEST aims to organize the cooperation between DOST-7 and the local government unit of Enrique Villanueva in the identification, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects and activities intended to reduce the incidence of poverty in the municipality.
One area which DOST-7 and FNRI target to address is malnutrition through feeding programs particularly through distribution of complimentary foods to children ages 0-3 years old, the time when malnutrition starts in many infants and contributes significantly to the high prevalence of malnutrition in children, Engr. Zamora said.
The municipality, he said, would also have the chance to receive OL (Ovicidal/Larvicidal) traps and water filters and its ‘Pan Bisaya’ (native bread) could be harnessed thru SETUP’s technology transfer thru acquisition of efficient machineries.
Since Enrique Villanueva is the first recipient of CEST in Siquijor, it will become the center of complimentary foods in the province should there be a 2nd phase of the project to cover all remaining 5 municipalities, he said.
According to Mayor Gerold Pal-ing, Enrique Villanueva has the lowest incidence of malnutrition in the province. “However, E.V. is not contented with the number and envisions achieving zero incidence of malnutrition”, he added.
As part of development of agenda for S&T intervention, the program will conduct Rural Rapid Appraisal and Planning Workshop to develop a roadmap and framework. For instance, a possible roadmap for livelihood and education will be formulated.
Engr. Zamora reminded the beneficiaries to keep all the receipts of purchased equipment. He added that the money should not be used to buy any other equipment except the ones stipulated in the approved proposal.
Should the LGU plan to purchase other equipment not stated in the approved proposal, the LGU should coordinate with DOST-PSTC Siquijor and write a letter of request for possible realignment.
The purchased equipment will remain DOST property for the period of one year, placed with inventory tags. After which, these equipment will be donated to said LGU.
Pal-ing, in behalf of the municipality of Enrique Villanueva expressed his gratitude for the assistance DOST has extended to the municipality.
DOST-Siquijor provincial director Engr. Mario de la Peña expressed his positive outlook in the implementation of the project.
The turnover of check took place at the conference room of the Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) of DOST-Siquijor. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor/with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor)