Department of Science and Technology Tarlac Provincial Director Karen Dañez (4th from left) awards the check worth P2.5-million to Governor Susan Yap (3rd from left) for the provincial government’s Upgrading of Packaging and Label Design Facility project. (Gabriela Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)
TARLAC CITY — Department of Science and Technology (DOST) turned-over financial aid amounting to P7.36 million for the science and technology (S&T) projects of seven local government units (LGUs) in Tarlac.
DOST Provincial Director Karen Dañez said monetary assistance was awarded through the Grants-in-Aid of the Project Municipal Innovation through Science and Technology (MIST).
Recipients include the provincial government of Tarlac (P2.5 million); municipal government of Camiling (P2.59 million); municipal government of Mayantoc (P568,000); city government of Tarlac (P495,000); municipal government of Moncada (P444,000); municipal government of Victoria (P410,000) and municipal government of Pura (P355,000).
“We assessed all LGUs in terms of the condition of their areas, sectors, livelihood, education, health and environment to identify the technology innovation that we can provide. Strengths and opportunities based on the result of the assessment helped our S&T coordinators determine the appropriate project for each LGU,” Dañez explained.
She added that Camiling town, with the highest financial grant, is a research and development collaboration with Tarlac State University (TSU) for the product and packaging standardization of Chicharon Camiling.
“The ultimate goal is to make Chicharon Camiling the first Tarlac product to pass the Philippine National Standards through the help of TSU and University of the Philippines Los Baños,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Dañez mentioned the beneficiaries of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program intended for indigenous peoples in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Under the CEST program, the municipal governments of Bamban, Mayantoc, San Clemente and San Jose will receive a total of P5.67 million worth of S&T projects.
“Our identified projects include root crops/vegetable processing, non-food processing, water filtration system, waste analysis and characterization study, and production of organic fertilizers,” she stated.
Additional projects include interactive multimedia teaching aids, biodiversity seminars, Juan-time clock with messaging board, and disaster preparedness and basic first aid.
“Finally, we are harvesting our first fruits in just less than a year. The pandemic won’t stop us from bringing sustainable and inclusive development to the people,” Dañez said.
“Project MIST does not end in the approval of these LGU projects. We already made our connection, and capacitated our S&T coordinators in the creation of project proposals. Now that we have collaborated, we expect more development-driven project proposals,” she added.
For her part, Governor Susan Yap lauded DOST Tarlac for the roll-out of Central Luzon’s first-ever Project MIST, and encouraged LGUs to submit more project proposals.
“There are so many things we can do and develop. Submit your proposals for the betterment of entrepreneurs and improvement of your natural resources,” Yap said.
Project MIST aims to bring substantial S&T innovations closer to the people with the active involvement of LGUs. (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)
