Brgy. Cogon, Capiz takes a significant step toward digital empowerment. Through its Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Project, the Department of Science and Technology Western Visayas (DOST Western Visayas), in partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of Sigma, Capiz, has officially deployed two DOST flagship technologies: Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated KioskS (STARBOOKS) and Barangay Infosystem for Development and Accountability (BIDA) System.

Also known as “library in a box”, the STARBOOKS was deployed to Cogon Elementary School to support learning. Since it operates even without an internet connection, it bridges the digital divide for learners in remote areas.

During the hands-on training led by Ms. Mia C. Pielago, DOST Capiz Senior Science Research Specialist, teachers explored the platform’s interactive science and technology (S&T) resources. A teacher from the elementary school noted the immediate impact, “Aside from numerous learning materials available, ang manami sa STARBOOKS is interactive siya. Naga-enjoy na ang students, naga-learn pa sila.” [Aside from the numerous learning materials available, what is good about STARBOOKS is that it is interactive. Students not only enjoy using it but also learn from it.]

While learners explore science, barangay officials and staff of Brgy. Cogon is modernizing the barangay operations. The Bida System was installed to digitize manual records and automate the issuance of important documents. Barangay officials and staff underwent training on the BIDA System, where they were introduced to its functions in streamlining barangay data recording and document issuance. Participants practiced navigating the platform, inputting data, and printing a sample barangay clearance. “Madamo gid nga salamat sa DOST Capiz kag Sigma LGU kay napili kami bilang beneficiary sang CEST Project. Dako gid ini nga bulig ang BIDA System sa amon. Mas mapadali na ang pag ubra mga barangay certificate kag clearance kag marecord pa namon,” [Thank you very much to DOST Capiz and Sigma LGU for choosing us as a beneficiary of the CEST Project. The BIDA System is a big help to us. It will make the preparation of barangay certificates and clearances faster while allowing us to properly record them.] a barangay official expressed his appreciation on the initiative.

These initiatives reflect the commitment of DOST Western Visayas and Sigma LGU in supporting digital empowerment in local schools and barangays by bringing science, technology, and innovation closer to the communities in Sigma, Capiz. (RAPizon/DOST Capiz)

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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