More remote or geographically displaced and disadvantage areas (GIDAs) are now  getting  boost from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)  via its  Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program.

 The DOST CEST program focuses on five development areas namely Economic/Livelihood, Environmental Protection, Health and Nutrition, Human Resource Development, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation.

In the province of Benguet, Tublay, a fifth class municipality, attests to the importance of S&T     as a driver of progress and development to   the rural communities.

One beneficiary under the livelihood component is the Association of Person with Disabilities of Tublay (APWDT) which was provided sewing and embroidery machines and training.  Its 21 members (10 males and 11 females) are now benefitting from their livelihood of garment production and sewing of eco-bags and facemasks.

The Ambassador Solo Parent Organization (ASPO) with 66 females and 3 males members is also a beneficiary of production equipment, laboratory analysis assistance and conceptualization and printing of product label design for their peanut butter and other peanut – based product.

Through S&T intervention, the Togon Farmers Multi – Purpose Cooperative also improved its ginger and turmeric tea products and increased   production.

To  improve  the livelihood of micro, small and medium enterprises in the municipality, DOST in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration, Department of Agriculture and Benguet State University, approved  a project in 2021 for the establishment of a cable – supported water and transport infrastructure that can be helpful for irrigation and in transporting vegetables and other products.

For environmental protection, DOST   funded the construction of Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in 2020 where the composted outputs are also being used by the municipality as a mix for hollow block production.

On education, students and teachers of the Ambongdolan Elementary School and Tublay National Trade High School are benefitting from the DOST STARBOOKS digital library.

In the DRRM/CCA aspect,  DOST Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) is bringing in its SAFE (S&T Action Frontline for Emergencies and Hazards) program for the protection of the vegetable terraces farms of the Tublay Agriculture – Based League of Entrepreneurs (TABLE).

In partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology, two Early Warning System with landslide sensor were established in Sitio Mamuyod, Ambassador, Tublay.

For health, DOST will   deploy   to Tublay its RxBox, a tele - health system designed to provide better access to life – saving health care in GIDA.

The DOST Benguet Provincial S&T Center also provided other CEST projects in the municipalities of Kibungan and Kapangan in 2021 and in Sablan this 2022.

 For the entire Cordillera, DOST – CAR data shows a total of 49 projects in 31 municipalities under the CEST program with a total funding of P38.86 million. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)