3 barangays in Santiago Island, Bolinao to benefit from DOST’s CEST Program
There are three (3) barangays in Santiago Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan that are set to benefit from the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. I (DOST-I) this year.
CEST beneficiary-barangays identified by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bolinao are Barangays Goyoden, Dewey, and Binabalian.
The DOST-I, through the Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) – Pangasinan launched the CEST Program in Bolinao, Pangasinan through the conduct of community needs assessment (CNA) on February 23-24, 2023. This initiative is in partnership with the Pangasinan State University (PSU) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Provincial Fisheries Office – Pangasinan (BFAR PFO-PANG).
The DOST-I core group led by CEST Project Leader Decth-1180 P. Libunao spearheaded the CAN, together with DOST-PSTO Pangasinan Director Engr. Arnold C. Santos, BFAR
Fishing Regulation Officer II Jean Garcia, PSU Director for Extension Services Office Dr. Armando D. Junio, and PSU experts.
PD Engr. Santos mentioned that the participation of the key informants provided for the sharing of information on appropriate interventions to help the communities. On the other hand, Libunao provided a summary of the program and addressed the LGU level to the barangay level to identify and ascertain the community's needs for science and technology interventions.
There were 75 key informants who participated in the said activity, which consists of the leaders of associations and organizations in the barangay, education representatives, health workers, and LGU representatives.
The activity also aimed to identify the community's situation in terms of livelihood generation, health and nutrition, basic education, environmental protection, and disaster risk reduction that are the entry points under the CEST Program. This initiative, likewise, targets a wider implementation of the program as part of its effort to sustain the initiatives in transforming marginalized communities to combat poverty and promote resiliency through science and technology.
Consolidated data will be presented to the DOST, BFAR, and PSU core group members to craft technology-based interventions to address each community’s concerns. Through CEST, the entire community will be involved in the development of society through science, technology, and innovation or STI.
CEST is one of the flagship programs of the DOST that is being implemented by the regional offices and provincial S&T offices to provide STI interventions suited to the unique needs of the different communities in the country with the end in mind of empowering communities to be self-sufficient and productive. (By: Monique C. Esguerra, DOST-I)
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