BORONGAN CITY- The Department of Science and Technology 8 – Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (DOET-CEST) awarded the Eastern Samar State University with P1 million for its extension services last June 12.
DOST Regional Director Ernesto Granada personally handed the check to ESSU president Andres Pagatpatan in the presence of university officials and Dr. Ramil Uy, DOST-8 CEST coordinator, and DOST Provincial Head, Dr. Arnaldo Amosco.
Granada was happy to note that the ultimate beneficiaries are farmers needing to expand their agricultural enterprise while observing environmental protection and climate change adaptation.
The university through its extension program targets four farmers’ associations that have proven worthy of managing their agricultural ventures.
They are the San Gabriel Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Cooperative and the San Gabriel Integrated Farmers Association from Brgy. San Gabriel, Borongan City.
Also included in the list are the Borongan Cacao Producers and Processors and the Balacdas Vegetable Farmers Association, still in Borongan City.
ESSU Pres. Pagatpatan assured the donors that the grant will benefit the farmers.
“ESSU’s extension program and capability building are sure to reduce poverty,” Pagatpatan said.
In his message, Dr. Uy said that farmers do not need rocket science but simple technology.
The package of S&T interventions to build communities will empower them to be progressive and resilient, he added.
For Dr. Rhodora Mendoza, vice-president for research and extension, “The CEST fund for the four farmers associations will sustain economic dynamism for the target barangays.”
The CEST fund also aims to contribute to the Task Force ELCAC through its Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster.
(NBQ/PIA-8/Eastern Samar)
