By Easter Anne Doza
BACOLOD City – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) turned over PHP351,323 worth of livelihood equipment to the 40-member Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma sa Barangay Inolingan (ASMBI) of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
The equipment from DOST included a tabletop vegetable cutter, meat grinder, a two-tank gas fryer, universal pulverizer, meat slicer, chest freezer, sausage filler, stainless table, food processor, and a band sealer, as part of the DOST livelihood project in partnership with the local government of Moises Padilla and the Office of 5th District Congresswoman Ma. Lourdes Arroyo.
In a video message, Arroyo lauded the ASMBI for being self-sustaining which, according to Arroyo, is needed in this time of pandemic because their products can help the fifth district, the province, and even the country.
“This program is promising for the community but its success relies on the community’s cooperation with each other,” Arroyo reminded the association members as she also vowed her help when needed.
Moises Padilla mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo urged the ASMBI members to take care of the project and be an inspiration to other members of the community because of the diligence they have shown to deserve the project.
DOST Provincial Director Engineer Allan Francis Dara-ug said through the project, they can also provide free packaging design and label for the products of the farmers’ association wherein the design would be subject to the association’s approval.
Meanwhile, ASMBI Processing Head Melanie Tuya is grateful for the livelihood equipment given to their association saying that it will help them with their vegan pancit canton production as well as allow them to expand to meat processing.
Aside from the livelihood equipment, DOST also turned over to Inolingan Elementary School a desktop computer with installed STARBOOKS, the first Philippine science digital library developed by DOST in partnership with Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), amounting to PHP42,000.
These projects are part of the DOST initiatives in empowering communities through Science & Technology through livelihood/economic enterprise development, health, and nutrition, human resource and development, environmental protection and conservation, disaster risk reduction & climate change adaptation. (PIA)
