SAN JOSE, Antique  (PIA)- - Antique placed third in the national search for Best Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) of the Department of Science and Technology.

The province was represented by the Municipality of Sibalom, which was awarded Regional Winner for 2021 Best CEST Community, while the University of Antique main campus located in the town of Sibalom was recognized as the lead implementing agency of the 2021 Best CEST Community in Region VI.

mic Enterprise Development, Health and Nutrition, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Human Resource Development, Strengthening of Community Governance.

Sibalom town 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 University of Antique's Complementary Food Production Facility – Technology and Livelihood Resource Center.

were taught to market their own products; this established the Sibalom TechnoHUB located at the UA Sibalom Campus.

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

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

Crespo addee that the TechnoHUB has provided complimentary food to medical frontliners during the pandemic. (UA/PIA-Antique)