To bolster community resilience, the Department of Science and Technology Capiz (DOST Capiz), in partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of Sigma, Capiz held a series of capacity-building activities for mothers and farmers in Brgy. Cogon, Sigma designed to support healthier families and more informed farming decisions.
The initiative, under the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program, provided 35 mothers and 30 farmers with data-driven tools and nutritional frameworks to improve household health and agricultural productivity.
As beneficiaries of CEST Program, implemented by Sigma LGU, the mothers enhanced their understanding of nutrition through training on Pinggang Pinoy and meal management, while the farmers gained science-based agricultural insights through an orientation on Project SARAI (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines).
The training on Pinggang Pinoy and Meal Management by DOST Western Visayas Project Technical Assistant III Ms. Ailyn C. Casia, PFT, highlighted the importance of proper nutrition. Participants reviewed the three basic food groups— Go, Grow, and Glow, and learned how the Pinggang Pinoy plate model serves as a simple guide for balanced meals. They also gained practical guidance on building a well-portioned plate using these food groups. The session emphasized the importance of balance, variety, and moderation, since no single food provides all essential nutrients. One mother shared her appreciation, saying “Salamat gid sa training, subong kahibalo na ako sang sakto nga proporsyon sang pagkaon para sa akon mga bata.” [Thanks to the training, I now have a better understanding of the proper food portions needed to give my children.]
The farmers, on the other hand, were introduced to technologies designed to support smarter, data-driven farming by Engr. Rem Rose T. Malaga, Project Technical Specialist III of Project SARAI . Technologies showcased key tools such as the Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Water Advisory for Irrigation Scheduling System (WAISS), Smarter Pest Identification Technology (SPIDTECH), BanaTech: Banana Harvest Date Calculator, and the Community-Level SARAI Enhanced Agricultural Monitoring System (CL-SEAMS). Farmers were also guided in using the SARAI Knowledge Portal, which provides accessible weather and soil information to support farm planning and decision-making. These technologies aim to help farmers optimize planting schedules, manage irrigation efficiently, monitor pests, anticipate harvests, and assess crop risks. One participant shared, “Manami gid nga may muni na nga klase sang sistema nga makabulig gid sa amon sa pagtanom kag sa pagdesisyon kun san-o nami magtanom kag mag-ani.” [It is good that systems like these exist, as they can help us in our farming activities, especially in deciding the best time to plant and harvest.]
These initiatives reflect DOST Western Visayas’ partnership with LGU Sigma and Brgy. Cogon’s commitment to strengthening both household nutrition and agricultural resilience. (LNGGebauer, RAPizon/DOST Capiz; Photos by: LNGGebauer, RAPizon/DOST Capiz, MAMMMendoza/RDIMS)
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.
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