Antique places 3rd in National Best CEST Community

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) awarded the province of Antique, represented by the municipality of Sibalom, as second runner up in the National Best CEST community, recognizing University of Antique (UA) as its lead implementing agency. Prior to this national recognition, the Municipality of Sibalom was awarded Regional Winner for 2021 Best CEST Community and University of Antique – Sibalom was recognized as the lead implementing agency of the 2021 Best CEST Community in Region VI in the municipality of Sibalom. As a regional champion, the CEST project of the municipality of Sibalom competed in the national level and was chosen as one of the top three finalists.

According to Engr. Rowen Gelonga, DOST VI regional director, the award was given to CEST communities that have remarkably developed beneficiaries into empowered and resilient communities after the provision of science and technology (S&T) interventions under CEST programs. The CEST project aimed to address the issues faced by communities through the five S&T interventions under the priority areas of CEST namely Livelihood/Economic Enterprise Development, Health and Nutrition, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Human Resource Development, Strengthening of Community Governance.

The municipality of Sibalom is one of the Technology and Livelihood Support Hubs (TechnoHUBs) in the province with Dr. Marie Ann Raymaro as TechnoHUB manager and Prof. Debbie Jean Sabug as Municipal Science and Technology officer.

The Sibalom TechnoHUB focused on the production of rice and grain-based products through UA’s Complementary Food Production Facility – Technology and Livelihood Resource Center.

The said facility produced and provided technical support for the production of rice-based and grain-based food products such as powder blends, curls, chips, bread and others; and produced the DOST-FNRI complementary food products intended for nutritional feeding. 𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦

According to Sibalom Mayor Gian Carlo F. Occeña, the CEST program interventions helped uplift the economic status of Sibalom communities.

He said that under the Livelihood Component program, the first and unique framework was created where farmers were taught to market their own products; this established the Sibalom TechnoHUB located at the UA Sibalom Campus.

The Alangan Farmers Association supplied their grain products to the TechnoHUB after availing of the S&T trainings and the Carrageenan Growth Enhancer supplies to boost their rice harvest.

(Watch 2021 NSTW in Region VI Opening Ceremonies https://www.facebook.com/DOSTRegionVI/videos/1589465284718252)

Dr. Pablo Crespo Jr., UA president, explained that Antique has the highest malnutrition problem in Panay and the CEST project helped in reducing the the malnutrition status in the province.

He said that 60% of severe malnourished children has improved their nutrition status while 78% of underweight children gained normal weight after four months of feeding program.

Through this program, Dr. Crespo revealed that the TechnoHUB provided complementary food to medical frontliners during the pandemic and jobs to many alumni of UA.

With UA Sibalom Campus as the lead implementing agency of the CEST project, the university aided S&T interventions such as livelihood programs; health and nutrition programs mainly the feeding programs using the DOST-FNRI Developed Complementary Food and Capability Building on Food and Nutrition, and distribution of ceramic water filter; disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programs like provision and installation of siren or early warning systems, conduct of trainings, provision of info-boards (hazard maps), and provision of computer units installed with Bantay Panahon; human resource and development with S&T Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS); and strengthening of community governance through Barangay Infosystem for Development and Accountability (BIDA).

The said projects were funded by former senator and Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, the representative of the lone province of Antique, with UA as lead implementer, in collaboration with the provincial government of Antique led by Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, and with direction from the DOST Region VI. (𝗜𝗔𝗣)