BAUTISTA, Pangasinan, Feb. 23 (PIA) – Day care centers and elementary schools in Bautista town recently received educational equipment from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Provincial Science and Technology Center (DOST-PSTC) - Pangasinan Field Office.
 
The two elementary schools, namely A. Diaz Sr. Elementary School and Vacante Elementary School, have received two computer units while three day care centers from barangay Diaz, Palisoc, and Vacante received three SMART TVs with DOST courseware.
 
The computers have an installed Science and Technology Academic and Research based openly operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS), the first digital library in the Philippines with science and technology resources available in text and video/audio format.
 
The awarding of educational equipment with installed DOST’s STARBOOKS and courseware to the schools aimed to close the gap between technology and rural schools as the ‘new normal’ brought challenge to both teachers and students forcing to shift from traditional to blended learning methods where the use of technology is required.
 
Barangays Diaz, Palisoc, and Vacante are beneficiaries of DOST in Region 1 under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program.
 
Under the CEST program, the DOST also launched a 120-day supplementary feeding program adopting the DOST's Package for the Improvement of Nutrition for Young children (PINOY) strategy to improve the nutritional status of children of the said barangays.
 
At least 65 undernourished children in Barangay Diaz, Palisoc and Vacante were identified to undergo the supplementary feeding program who will receive complementary foods for 120 days in addition to their daily food intakes and will be weighed every month to determine the improvement of their nutritional status.
 
During the launching of the program, Jennifer Fernandez, science research specialist II of DOST-PSTC, demonstrated the preparation of the food blend, and awarded six boxes of ready-to-eat chicken arroz caldo to the beneficiaries.
 
CEST is one of the banner programs of DOST which aims to deliver sustainable development to various communities nationwide through the provision of science and technology interventions.
 
The program focuses on improving the livelihood, health and nutrition, environmental protection and conservation, education, and disaster risk reduction management of the community beneficiary. (JCR/AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)