by: DAISY D.J. SIMON- DOST-Quirino and THELMA C. BICARME- PIA-Quirino
DIFFUN, Quirino, July 1– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is set to launch its Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) at barangay Macate here during the Regional Science & Technology Week celebration to be hosted by Quirino this July.

CEST is fully aligned with the national agenda of development enunciated in President Aquino’s Social Contract with the Filipino People wherein DOST is taking up the challenge for community empowerment by putting it more in the frontline of fighting poverty by empowering the marginalized segments of society.

Macate, as the target community will receive programs that can alleviate poverty in rural communities such as livelihood trainings and capacitation for the members of the community.

Initially, the Macate Rural Workers were trained on bayong making and the budget of P 180,000.00 for said livelihood project was already downloaded by the DOST to the municipal local government who will take charge in the implementation.

Health and nutrition programs will also be poured in the said barangay which include feeding program for 120 days for malnourished children at Macate Elementary School and day care school using the complementary foods developed by Food and Nutrition Institute-DOST.

The school was also given Ovicidal-Larvicidal Traps of OL Trap against dengue.

DOST will also install STARBOOKS to the said school for the use of the pupils and the community as well.

Likewise, DOST shall facilitate the review for the PISAY exam in order to help pupils pass the scholarships and fulfill its goal to have a scholar from the barangay.

Other projects that are given to the barangay are drinking water testing through DOST-Regional Standards Testing Laboratory. Water filters will be given to households with unsafe drinking water.

Furthermore, information and education campaign on disaster management including hazards and on what to do during disaster like earthquakes, landslides and others will be conducted.