DOST-CAR okays more projects in Mt. Province

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Science and Technology for Advancement of Municipalities (STEAM) project of the Department of Science and Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) has approved this year  nine  community-based projects in the province worth P1,408,074.10.

Gwyncel Bacwaden of  provincial DOST bared  approved projects include Science & Technology (S & T) projects in establishment of small equipment fabrication facility for blacksmiths of the  Abante Bauko Movement Inc. (ABMI) in Tapapan worth of P118, 400.00; establishment of community-based integrated vegetable-based food processing facility of the  Besel Women’s Organization in Lesseb- P263,500;  community-based banana chips processing of the  ABMI  in Mayag-P98,825.00;  establishment of meat processing of the Mapanawil-Bagnen Irrigators Association, Inc. in Bagnen-P49,765.60,  and enhancing the productivity and market competitiveness of peanut butter through improved packaging, labeling and laboratory analysis of the Inglayan D Ibila, AbanteBauko movement, Inc-P69,520.00,  all in  municipality of Bauko.

The town of Sagada has two approved projects namely community-based project on enhancing production and market competitiveness of muscovado sugar of  the  Demang Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in Demang worth  P187,900 and supporting the livelihood of women weavers of  the Sagada Inabe in Poblacion. Procurement of equipment of these projects is ongoing.

In Tadian municipality, approved projects are establishment of community-based sugarcane food processing of the Pandayan Waterworks Farmers and Irrigators Association, Inc.-P183,742.50 and  brown rice processing of the Asiyey Bayocan Irrigators Association in Dacudac- P338,000.00.

These approved projects are among the 20 project proposals submitted to the DOST regional office.

According to Bacwaden, there are six project proposals with the Technical Assessment Committee for final evaluation.

The STEAM program aims to technically equip municipal Science & Technology coordinators for effective project identification, proposal preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. This is a partnership with the local government units to ensure that available science and technology  programs, projects and activities will reach the intended beneficiaries.

The STEAM project has helped beneficiaries  improve  their productions and  increase their income .