BALBALAN, Kalinga, July 9 (PIA) – – Twenty-five members of the Papaltungon Coffee Growers Association here were trained on wood-based souvenir items under the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology or CEST.
“Bringing closer government service to the rural areas, DOST conducted the training at Sitio Bullalayaw, Pantikian this town,” Engr. Ralf Sapi-il, OIC of DOST provincial office, here said.
The trainees used coffee timber cut from rejuvinated coffee trees in crafting keychains, refrigerator magnet, necklace, earing, bracelets, wall decor, furniture and many more. DOST awarded equipment for the processing of wood products.
Balbalan is the regional winner as “Best CEST Community” in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Sale of souvenir items is becoming a lucrative source of income among local producers raking in millions during festivals. The recent Matagoan Patawid Fair raked-in P4.8 million sales.
It can be recalled that the Dupligan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and Nalyawan Multipurpose Cooperative, both in Tanudan were the first CEST beneficiaries in CAR. DOST provided the two cooperatives processing machines under its Grants-in-Aid program for the establishment of three processing facilities on coffee, corn, and banana.
CEST is a program initiated by then DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo designed to provide S&T assistance to the poorest of the poor municipalities in the country through five entry points namely livelihood, basic education, disaster risk reduction management, health and nutrition and water and sanitation. **JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga
