NAVAL, Biliran The Department of Science and Technology – Regional Office 8 recently held an orientation and consultation workshop with stakeholders in the province of Biliran for the Innovation, Science and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-Based Development (iSTART) program.

The orientation and consultation workshop was attended by the municipal and provincial planning officers, and representatives from the different national government agencies involved in the physical and economic development of the province.

iSTART program is the strategic alignment of the DOST technology transfer programs and projects, the engagement of researchers, scientists, and engineers, and the conduct of research and development.

These are needed to establish and improve micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in support of the development in the countryside, explained DOST-8 Planning Officer Roderick B. Pacañot during the orientation workshop.

In accordance with the DOST’s iSTART program, Biliran Provincial Planning Officer Hossana E. Gomez presented the newly revised vision of Biliran province to be anchored on sustainable agriculture and tourism industries, with a technologically competent and ecologically balanced community.

Being the capital town and center of economic activities in the island province, Naval Mayor Gretchen Stephanie Espina suggested to foster collaborations with other LGUs.

The aim is to optimize efforts and services to ensure that funding allocated for the execution of programs and projects is utilized effectively, thereby minimizing wastage. In consonance with Mayor Espina’s suggestion of collaborative efforts, Dr. Ramil Uy, supervising science research specialist of DOST-8, suggested the concept of making Higatangan of Naval as the first Smart Island in the region.

This initiative would harness the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) on the island, primarily for the purposes of enhancing tourism management and fostering community development.

The DOST solar powered water purification system and water refilling station granted to the people of Higatangan Island of Naval located and managed by the Fidel Limpiado Memorial National High School. (Photo by DOST-Biliran)

Meanwhile, DOST-Biliran previously provided Higatangan Island with a solar-powered water purification system, as disclosed by DOST-Biliran Provincial Director Romeo Dignos. This system is now managed at Fidel Limpiado Memorial National High School. Residents are delighted with the installation, as it eliminates the need to rely on unsafe deep well water and stored rainwater, offering a safer and more affordable alternative to purchasing water from the capital town of Naval.

The provincial local government has additionally built public toilets employing Eco Septic tank technology, which involves the treatment of wastewater using Vigormin powder, a technology developed by Adamson University. This measure aims to safeguard the beaches of Higatangan from contamination and promote environmental conservation.
Dr. Uy also disclosed, in an interview, that the campaign for iSTART program is intended for nationwide implementation. For the Eastern Visayas region, they already negotiated with the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar, and the province of Leyte in the implementation stage.

Additionally, with the involvement of researchers, scientists, and engineers in the iSTART program, PBBM’s Balik Scientist program can be used as one of the strategies in the development of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) plans for the provinces in Region 8.
(MMP/MLT/PIA Biliran)

TACLOBAN CITY– Two former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 68 of their supporters and militia members received financial assistance from the city government of Borongan, Eastern Samar.

The financial assistance granted to the beneficiaries by the city government was under its local social integration program (LSIP), a program designed to encourage NPA rebels, members of their front organizations, and supporters to return to the fold of the law.

The two former rebels each received P50,000 while the rest of the beneficiaries got P10,000 each during a simple ceremony held on Tuesday (Sept.5) at the headquarters of the 78th Infantry Battalion, based in Borongan City.

The beneficiaries were from the remote village of San Andres. It was learned that the two rebels together with the members of the militia groups and their sympathizers returned to the fold of the law on August 19, this year.

Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said that he hoped that those who surrendered and took allegiance to the government would no longer return to the outlawed communist group and start a new and normal life instead.

“Since you are already here and have returned to the fold of the government, I hope you won’t go back to being a rebel because the government is working hard so we can fulfill our duty which is to provide a fair service for you,” he said.

B/Gen. Noel Vestuir, the commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, encouraged the villagers, especially those in the far-flung barangays, not to support the communist armed group and help those in the armed group to rejoin them instead.

“Let us be united in transforming the remaining conflict-affected and underdeveloped areas into zones of peace, development, and prosperity composed of communities that are inhospitable to the remaining NPAs who remain hostile to the desire for a life of peace and harmony,” he said.

For his part, Lt. Col. Allan Tria, the commanding officer of the 78th IB, urged the beneficiaries to put into good use the financial assistance extended to them by the government.

“I hope that you will put into good use the financial assistance extended to you by the city government. We will try to persuade other departments of our government to give you more help,” he said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Some 114 farmers’ groups in Eastern Visayas listed as recipients of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA – SAAD) program will receive further marketing and enterprise support to boost their egg production.

The associations, with 2,253 members, have been receiving government support since 2020. They are also listed as beneficiaries of the DA’s Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) program.

DA-Eastern Visayas regional technical director for operations Larry Sultan said in a statement on Monday that a comprehensive evaluation will be done on the targeted groups provided with egg layer production support to ensure the inclusion of the F2C2 strategy.

“We will focus on the sustainability of their projects, their associations’ internal core, their financial management, and the quality and quantity of products they produce,” Sultan said.
F2C2 is a strategy implemented by the DA that focuses on grouping together crops, livestock and fish producers within a community or adjacent communities.

It aims to improve the lives of the farmers and fisherfolk by creating economies of scale, strengthening accessibility to the market, improving bargaining and marketing capability, attracting strategic investments, and improving overall agriculture sector productivity.
Of the 114 associations, 20 are in Leyte province, five in Southern Leyte, 37 in Samar, 34 in Eastern Samar and 18 in Northern Samar.

“Now, part of the monitoring activities is the identification of prospective groups with strong internal core and financial management. We want to have viable organizations to succeed in clustering and consolidation, then achieve the small brother – big brother concept,” Sultan added.

Under the strategy, the DA will conduct forecasting activities to identify the possible supplies of eggs coming from SAAD beneficiaries in the upcoming years.
This initiative of interlinking the SAAD program’s egg layer projects farmer beneficiaries with the F2C2 strategy is only a step toward incorporating other beneficiaries bearing different commodities covered by the program.

SAAD is a special program of the DA focusing on the 10 poorest provinces in the country, which include the five provinces in Eastern Visayas.

Activities are focused on social preparation and provision of agriculture and fishery-related livelihood interventions to address poverty. (PNA)

ISABEL,Leyte– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) commences the construction of a farm-to-market road in Isabel, Leyte to improve connectivity and uplift the quality of life for the local residents.

The project involves the concreting of a 0.920-kilometer two-lane Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) road from Brgy. San Francisco to Brgy. Bantigue amounting to Php 16,790,120.00 and funded through the Department of Agriculture Farm-to-Market Road (DA-FMR) 2023.

Once completed, this vital infrastructure will provide a multifaceted positive impact, benefitting farmers, communities and the overall economy while also improving access to essential services and contributing to rural development through a reliable travel route for both motorists and pedestrians by facilitating the transportation of agricultural products, goods, and services between the two barangays as well as their adjacent community trading centers.

With a current accomplishment rate of 20.36%, the road project is expected to conclude by November of this year. (PR)