The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) named Barangay 412, Zone 42 in Legarda, Manila as this year’s Best CEST Community.
The DOST conferred the award on Nov. 27 as part of the celebration of the 2021 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the barangay is one of the communities assisted by DOST-NCR under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program.
CEST program seeks to strengthen communities through the five-entry points: health and nutrition, water and sanitation, livelihood and enterprise development, education and literacy, and disaster risk reduction and management.
The DOST chief said Barangay 412 Zone 42 was once a target for force eviction and relocation due to their hazardous living conditions as it is situated along the Estero de San Miguel.
It was in 2017 when the DOST-NCR implemented the CEST Program in the barangay, and provided assistance based on the results from a series of focus group discussions.
“The community was provided with support to improve their sewing livelihood of the community dubbed as “Sastrepreneurship Program,” the DOST chief said.
From June 2019 to March 2021, he said the community’s income from Sastrepreneurship amounted to P327,000.
De la Peña cited that the community was also a recipient of the Gulayan sa Pamayanan (GSP) Program, providing 720 pieces of “super paso” to 60 families and to the barangay’s communal garden.
“Barangay 412 also established their Material Recovery Facility (MRF) wherein they were provided with technologies on waste management such as dual drum composter and plastic shredder,” he said.
He said the barangay is currently engaging with Claro M. Recto High School for their initiatives in community development.
The school was likewise provided with support activities for human resource development such as Invent School, Wanderlab, and Hands-on Minds-on Microscale Chemistry Workshop.
Because of these activities, three students from the school passed as DOST scholars, de la Peña said.