As the country is considered to be a natural disaster-prone with a high incidence of poverty, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI answers the call to address the issues with proper application of science and technology-based interventions to a conflict-affected community in Ibajay, Aklan.

Through the department’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Program, the Brgy. Cabugao with members of the Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan (KPP) will be provided with mechanisms to upgrade their livelihood and education and improve the health status of their children.

Covering the three components of the program namely Livelihood/Economic Enterprise Development, Human Resource Development, and Health and Nutrition, the community will be established with Emergency Food Reserve (EFR) Production Facilities, STARBOOKS for the students, and supplementary feeding to children through the Enhanced Nutribun (e-Nutribun), respectively.

Developed by Food Processing Division of the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute in 2010, the EFR is an energy-dense and nutritionally packed food with a bland taste and can be blended with spices or other ingredients to create meals with desired flavors and variety.

The EFR, when properly packaged, can be stored for about 5 years as an emergency food stock that can be used for feeding during emergency relief and rehabilitation programs.

With no access to the latest educational materials, the students and members of the KPP will be provided with useful information on advanced technology through DOST’s first digital library STARBOOKS – a good reference for students and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop ideas on business venture.

A rollout of the e-Nutribun will also be established to improve the health status of children among the group with weighing of the children before and after the 90-day feeding. The e-Nutribun is one of the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s answers to the call of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Memorandum Circular No. 12 Series of 2020, or the Guidelines in the Implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program During Community Quarantine or Other Similar Emergencies.

With a budget amounting to Php1.4 million, the project is in partnership with Aklan State University-Ibajay Campus and Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan (KPP) Community.

Recently, DOST VI Aklan Provincial S&T Director Ms. Dyna Rose G. Tibubos initiated the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with ASU President, Dr. Emily M. Arangote. (JJMoleño/SSalazar/DOST VI-KMU)