DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 26 (PIA) -- The municipality of Mabinay received a cash award and a plaque of recognition as outstanding Community Empowerment Thru Science and Technology (CEST) in Negros Oriental.

The Department of Science and Technology-Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (DOST-CEST) has recognized Mabinay during the opening ceremony of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration for Central Visayas on Aug. 25 held via Zoom. 

According to DOST S&T Officer Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing, the town of Mabinay is a recipient of DOST’s farmer scientist training program under CEST Project where farmers employed a science-based approach in growing corn.

DOST also helped developed the municipality’s bamboo furniture industry.

The Forest Product Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) of DOST also held an assessment and hands-on training on the production of bamboo-based furniture.

Abing said the CEST Project became an avenue for the micro, small, medium enterprises (MSME) in the municipality to become SETUP clients.

Other interventions include the installation and turnover of the STARBOOKS or Science and Technology Academic Research-based Openly Operated Kiosks, also known as the country’s first library in a box.

Abing said rice-mongo blends formulated by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of DOST were also fed to malnourished children for six months. 

CEST is a package of science and technology interventions which aims to build progressive, empowered, and resilient rural communities.

The program is targeting to empower the poorest and most depressed communities in the country through science and technology interventions in health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, livelihood/economic enterprise development, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)