BONTOC, Mountain Province – Three barangays affected by insurgency concerns received livelihood, education, and health assistance from the government amounting to nearly P1 million.
This is part of the government’s commitment in responding to the clamor and needs of the villagers after a series of consultations conducted by the task force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The P939,210.50, which came from the Department of Science and Technology, covers the muscovado processing center for Darlic Irrigators Association in Barangay Dalican, meat processing center for the Vinnachang Mainit PWD Organization, the provision of ceramic water filters to the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; and provision of digital science library, Starbooks, to the Guina-ang Elementary School (ES), Dalican ES, and Mainit ES.
Municipal S&T Coordinator Jenelyn Caluza said one Starbooks will also be provided to the Bontoc Municipal Library for public use.
She added Dalican National High School (NHS), Guina-ang NHS, and Guina-ang NHS- Mainit Extension also received the Starbooks earlier.
The Starbooks is a stand-alone kiosk where information can be accessed even without an Internet connection, which makes it ideal in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
The information kiosk contains educational videos, library materials, DOST publications including the Philippine Science Journal, DOST technologies, interactive Science and Math courseware, and other education-related materials.
Mayor Franklin Odsey expressed his gratitude to the DOST for the assistance that came with the package that responds to the livelihood, education, and health needs of the villages.
“We are faced with the difficult situation due to the global pandemic, but the programs of the government are not paralyzed. This is a manifestation of the commitment of government in bringing its services to the grassroots,” Odsey added.
The mayor urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the equipment provided to them with high hopes that it shall be used for its intended purpose.
Prior to the turnover of the equipment, ceramic water filters, and Starbooks to the recipients, a memorandum of agreement was forged between the DOST represented by DOST-Cordillera Director Nancy Bantog, Odsey, Vinnachang Mainit PWD Organization President Edward Manengyao, Darlic Irrigators Association President Reynald Waking, Dalican ES Head Maurice Baniswal, Mainit School Head Manuela Lomasoc, and Guina-ang ES Head Estefania Ana-ao. – Alpine L. Killa
