The Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST) works with Herbanext Laboratories, Inc. to establish a market for the products of the Herbayan – a community-based herb garden under the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Program.

The NONESCOST team, led by Ms. Venice Marie Hulleza, Director for External and International Affairs, and Mr. John Rick Ogan, Project Leader, met with Mr. Philip Cruz, President of Herbanext, to discuss the possible trainings and support that Herbanext can provide to strengthen the partnership. During the meeting, Mr. Cruz expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and discussed how the collaboration could help boost the local economy.

Following the meeting, the team from NONESCOST took a tour around Herbanext Laboratories to get a better understanding of the company’s operations and how the partnership can benefit both parties.  Herbanext Laboratories is a DOST assisted firm under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program – Innovation Enabling Fund (SETUP iFund) and the first recipient of DOST’s BIST or the Business Innovation through Science and Technology.

With the partnership in place, the Herbayan project will have access to a wider market, allowing the community to sell its products to a larger customer base. This will not only help the community generate income but also promote the use of herbal products.

The CEST Program is aimed at empowering communities in Northern Negros through the use of science and technology. The program focuses on five (5) CEST components: Livelihood Development, Health and Nutrition, Human Resource Development, Environmental Protection and Conservation, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation. (DOST VI-KMU)