(Photo Caption: FRUIT OF THEIR LABORS. Women entrepreneurs in Nalbu, Mayoyao, Ifugao on June 9, 2021, with their finished products from a soybean processing workshop, among the series of technology trainings on food processing for MSMEs that DOST-CAR, through PSTC-Ifugao, organized as part of the SFTP Caravan in the province)

Anchored on the cause for inclusive and holistic countryside development through Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the Department of Science and Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) conducted the third leg of the Science for the People (SFTP) caravan in CAR for the month of June.

The Ifugao Provincial S&T Center (PSTC), headed by PST Director Genna Jallorina, organized the series of promotional events and dialogues on existing programs, projects and activities (PPAs) designed to bring STI closer to the community and various sectors in the province of Ifugao.

Technology Trainings on Food Processing, Farm Outputs

To help upgrade the local workforce's skills in the processing of food products using equipment provided to respective projects with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the S&T team conducted different hands-on training for local producers.

In the remote village of Nalbu in Mayoyao, Ifugao, members of the Nalbu Women's Organization trained to master the methods in making soybean products on June 9, 2021 while those from the Pun-oh-ohaan Women's Organization focused on turning ginger into candies and tea on June 10, 2021. Also, planters from the 4H Club in Ubao, Aguinaldo learned new ways on how to handle banana, rice, cassava and camote to produce various quality food products on June 11, 2021.

Meanwhile, staff from the Ifugao PSTC, together with the Department of Agriculture-CAR and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), conducted a Techno-Fora on Mushroom, Goat and Cattle Production for local farmers and workers on June 23, 2021. Farm technologies, such as the DA-Region 2's farm silage production, a support program for goat and cattle production, were featured as well as institutional assistance in the adoption of these technologies by the MSMEs and agripreneurs.

(Photo Caption: Participants, composed of MSMEs, youth and metal fabrication practitioners from Ifugao, who completed the 2-day training on metal crafts organized by PSTC-Ifugao)

Promoting education thru STARBOOKS

In line with the efforts in promoting science education through technology, DOST-CAR facilitated trainings for teacher-administrators on the use of the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station (STARBOOKS) in different beneficiary-schools in the province (namely, Mongilit-Ligmayo National High School, Hapid Main and Annex National High School, Lawig National High School, Nayon Elementary School, Lamut Central School, Ubao National High School, Aguinaldo National High School, Halag Elementary School, Alfonso Lista Central School, Sta. Maria National High School and Rufino I. Chungalao Science High School) on June 14 and 15, 2021.

The STARBOOKS is a standalone S&T information portal containing digitized science and technology resources in various formats (text and video/audio) placed in specially design "pods" set in a user-friendly interface that does not require internet connection.

Further, as part of DOST-CAR's Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Project in the town of Aguinaldo, Ifugao complementary food packs were turned over to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Aguinaldo for the Feeding Program of 48 malnourished children for 180 days.

Forging local metal crafts industry

DOST-CAR is leveraging regional advances in the metal crafts industry for the benefit of researchers, MSMEs and other stakeholders in the locality, especially with the recent groundbreaking of the first DOST-Metals and Engineering Innovation Center (MEIC) in CAR at the Ifugao State University-Lagawe Campus on June 16, 2021.

In line with this, DOST-CAR organized a capacity-building activity for metal fabrication practitioners in the workplaces and educational institutions across the province on June 22-23, 2021. Discussions and practical insights on welding, workmanship, safety and other considerations in the production of metal crafts, including the fabrication of Covid19-related technologies, were shared in the workshops to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants.

Going beyond implementing STI programs for regional development, DOST-CAR continues to ensure that science works for the people of Cordillera. (DOST CAR)