Community livelihood enterprises acquire processing equipment from DOST CEST

Community livelihood enterprises acquire processing equipment from the Department of Science and Technology Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (DOST CEST) program.

Led by DOST VI and Taytay Sa Kauswagan (A Microfinance NGO), Inc., the project is dubbed “Building Resilient and Empowered Communities through Science and Technology Interventions in (PBLA), Leon Confed Farmer Dairy Association (LECOFADA), Paloc Sool Pantawid Assocation (PSPA), and Villahermosa Vegetable Noodle SLP Association (VVNSLPA)”. It aims to build and empower identified communities through science and technology interventions such as provision of food processing and other tech equipment, technology trainings, and other technical assistance for the beneficiaries.

Under the project, DOST VI recently held equipment inspection and project monitoring visits to 2 out of the 4 beneficiaries, PSPA and VVNSLPA. The activities were headed and facilitated by Provincial Director Engr. Sheila L. Oberio and the project staff, Tito C. Gambuta, from the Iloilo Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO).

PSPA located in Dumangas, Iloilo established a bakery back in 2018 while VVNSLPA located in Sara, Iloilo established a vegetable noodle production enterprise back in 2019. Both were put up with assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP).

In addition, procurement of equipment for other beneficiaries are also ongoing. PBLA will be provided assistance to enhance its Rain Water Harvesting Facility and LECOFADA to improve its milk production and processing facility.(KJRGagajena/DOSTVI-KMU)