Two projects in Misamis Oriental under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program were provided financial assistance worth more than P1 million by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC).  

The first one, entitled “Upgrading of Community Food Processing Facility in Barangay Baybay, Alubijid, Misamis Oriental – D2,” will benefit Alubijid Foods Inc, a group of food processors in Alubijid and a recipient of a CEST project in 2017. 

Recently, they received consultancy services to acquire a license to operate (LTO) certificate from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), additional packaging and labeling interventions, and upgrading of food processing equipment.

“Daghan kaayo salamat sa DOST nga gibulig gayud sa amo gikan pa sauna hangtud karon. Wala gyud mo nagkulang sa mga support bisan pa man sa kakulian karon sa pandemic, naa lang gihapon mo hangtud karon,” said Elvie M. Labis, president of AFI.

(Many thanks to DOST for its longstanding support to us. The agency never failed to support us even in this time of a pandemic.)

The second project is the new and improved fish drying facility for the Baybay Aquatic Fishermen Organization (BAFO), a registered group of fisherfolks in the municipality. 

A Solar Tunnel Dryer and Dehydrator, a safer way for fish preservation, will be turned-over to the proponents as an alternative to sun-drying. The project also includes training on current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), capability training, laboratory tests, and initial packaging and labeling support.

“Salamat gyud, , kay ang among pangandoy, ang among gipangayo sauna kawayan ra para bularan sa isda. Pasalamat mi kay naa pa diay labaw pa ato nga dili kawayan ang moabot sa amo,” said Pedro D. Momo, BAFO president.

(Thank you so much to DOST. We only asked for bamboo as means to dry our fish, but DOST was able to grant us equipment that is much better than we expected.)

The funds for the two projects in LGU-Alubijid came from the allotted prize (project proposal-based) awarded to the proponents as the Best CEST Community in Region X during the celebration of the 2019 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) worth P1,065,300.

DOST said that the implementation of these projects will help promote more economic development activities in the municipality and is expected to uplift the socio-economic status of the said marginalized communities.

“Pasalamat kay Ma’am Beng ug sa kauban sa DOST. Kini makahatag gayud ug dakong kaayuhan sa among fisherfolks dinhi sa lungsod sa Alubijid. Hinaot unta nga magpadayon pa ang suporta sa amo. Daghan Kaayong Salamat,” said Alubijid Mayor Emmanuel L. Jamis.  

(I thank Ms. Beng Ruiz and all the staff of DOST. These projects bring great help to our fisherfolks in Alubijid. We hope that you continue to support us. Thank you very much.)

CEST is one of the flagship programs of the DOST being implemented by its regional offices in tandem with the various DOST partner agencies and institutes. The program addresses the needs of communities in five entry points: health and nutrition, basic education, livelihood and enterprise development, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.