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Far-flung barangays in Janiuay, Iloilo to benefit DOST’s 1.4M community project

A first-class municipality and 33 kilometers away from Iloilo City, some of the far-flung communities in Janiuay, Iloilo encounter insurgencies, internal disturbances, and tensions brought about by broader social and economic problems.

Brgy. Poblacion, Brgy. Canawili, and Brgy. Atimonan – these communities have been recently identified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI to assist in improving their quality of life through the provision of a holistic package of interventions from the department’s banner program Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST).

Considered to be vulnerable and conflict-affected communities, they have been facing the challenges of poverty, historical injustice, social inequality, and lack of inclusivity, resulting in various development constraints.

Addressing these concerns, the communities will go through an aggressive intervention of the program’s three components namely human resource development, health and nutrition, environmental protection and conservations, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRR CCA).

Strengthening human resource development through increased access to Science and Technology (S&T) information, the program will provide the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) to the identified school in the locality. When applicable, an enrichment class for DOST-Science Education Institute S&T Undergraduate Scholarships will also be conducted to graduating high school students.

Providing interventions on health and nutrition, the conduct of orientation on DOST FNRI’s Pinggang Pinoy, and a seminar on meal planning will be implemented for both men and women in the area.

Also, a wireless data network (WDN) will be established and seminar on Disaster Preparedness will be conducted to improve communication and create awareness on the appropriate response to a disaster.

With a fund amounting to Php1,454,198.40, the project recently conducted its signing of Memorandum of Agreement with Janiuay Mayor, Hon. Bienvenido Margarico and DOST VI representative Iloilo Provincial S&T Director, Engr. Sheila L. Oberio. (JJMoleño/SSalazar/DOST VI-KMU)