TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 2 takes pride as the Bulala Men and Women’s Association of Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya was hailed as the Regional Winner of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) 2024 Best CEST Community conferred during the 2024 Regional Science and Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) at SM City Tuguegarao on September 25, 2024.
The association, initially known as the Bulala Pineapple Association, was formed through the Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI), a program that provides complementary aid to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, particularly from Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples. With support from ESSI, the group ventured into pineapple production as their eco-cultural livelihood assistance and income generating project.
In 2022, through the DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program, the association received financial assistance for the purchase of equipment for pineapple processing. Along with this, they benefited from various skills training and other interventions that enhanced their capabilities to leverage their operations and increase productivity.
CEST, spearheaded by DOST Region 02, aims to foster development in remote and disadvantaged areas by introducing technological innovations. These interventions cover health, nutrition, education, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection, while also providing technology-based livelihood projects to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and marginalized sectors, including farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and women’s groups.
The association’s efforts were also recognized in 2023 when they were declared Champion in the IPaMaNa (IP ang yaMan ng Nasyon): Search for Model IP Community.
As the regional winner, the Bulala Men and Women’s Association will now represent Region 02 in the national search for the Best CEST Community.
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