Hosted by ESSU's Training and Extension Services Office (TESO), the Department of Science & Technology (DOST) held a CEST 2.0 Project Fund formal turnover ceremony for the San Gabriel Integrated Farmers Association (SAGIFA) at the SMART IT Building, ESSU Main Campus, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
The Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) project is aimed at expanding the Science & Technology Institute's (STI) interventions of DOST that empower local organizations by fostering resilience, economic growth, and competitiveness in rural communities.
Since becoming a beneficiary in 2021, the San Gabriel Integrated Farmers Association (SAGIFA) has made remarkable strides in advancing its egg production project, which has become a stable source of income, nutrition, and local economic growth. The initial STI support, particularly through the acquisition of egg-laying machines, enabled SAGIFA to improve its production capacity, leading to enhanced growth and stability within the community.
The additional Php 1,060,400 funding that is covered in the said turnover ceremony allows SAGIFA to further expand and elevate its egg production project. This funding provides additional resources to strengthen productivity, increase food availability, and secure livelihood opportunities for its members. Furthermore, this project continues to support SAGIFA’s role as a model for science-driven agricultural practices within a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) and a Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) priority area, which holds significance in the context of national goals for rural development and economic empowerment.
Aligned with the objectives of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), this initiative will contribute to economic development, disaster risk reduction and management, and human resource development in the region. By enhancing productivity through innovative agricultural practices, SAGIFA is not only increasing the community’s self-sufficiency but also building resilience to economic challenges.
