UA partners with DOST, CEST Phase II launched
As part of its commitment to ‘transform lives and build communities’, University of Antique (UA) partnered with the Department of Science and Technology Region VI (DOST-VI), and will officially launch to public the second phase of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program in the province of Antique today, September 30, 1:30 p.m.
The said program was initially launched at UA Sibalom Campus on August 1, 2019, with the initiative of Deputy House Speaker and Antique representative Hon. Loren Legarda, DOST-VI regional director Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, and received by UA president Dr. Pablo S. Crespo Jr.
CEST Phase I was implemented in the 18 municipalities of Antique between 2017 to 2019 to address the issues faced by the province through the five science and technology (S&T) interventions under CEST priority areas, namely: livelihood/economic enterprise development, health and nutrition, human resource development, environmental protection and conservation, and disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation.
The program built the Complementary Food Production Facility – Technology and Livelihood Resource Center at UA Sibalom Campus which handled the production of food products and distributed to DepEd schools in the province via NutriKart.
The NutriKart sold rice and grain-based products such as powder blends, curls, chips, bread and others to DepEd pupils and students as alternative to junk food.
CEST Phase II at TLM Campus Launched
To reinforce the interventions implemented in the 18 municipalities of Antique through CEST Phase I, the DOST-VI and UA Tario Lim Memorial Campus (UA TLMC) implemented the CEST Phase II project in 2019.
The project aimed to provide comprehensive technical services and processing equipment to UA TLMC and selected barangays in each municipality to engage in fish and nice-food processing and strengthen disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation skills of the communities by providing appropriate technologies and capability building trainings.
CEST Phase II provided various S&T interventions in the CEST areas of livelihood/economic enterprise development and disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation.
These interventions established Technohubs in various municipalities in the province, namely: Tibiao, Caluya, San Remigio, Sibalom, and Hamtic.
It also implemented livelihood projects under TechnoBEEs such as processing of bread and pastry; fish; seaweed; meat; peanut; cacao; high value crops, root crops, and vegetables; and ice cream.
“The CEST project implemented in Antique is a unique framework because the government agency, the DOST, taps the academe for its implementation. UA is thankful for the DOST’s trust,” Dr. Crespo said.