DOST-8 releases livelihood support for Yolanda victims of Cabucgayan

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The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VIII through the Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center, released its counterpart funds on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 for the project "Establishment of Common Service Facility for Fiberglass Boat Production in Support to the Aquamarine Industry."

The amount of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) from the DOST-8 Grant-in Aid (GIA) Program will be used to acquire the needed equipment for the fabrication of fiberglass boats. The target beneficiaries are the fisher-folks affected by the devastating typhoon Yolanda that also hit the Municipality of Cabucgayan.

The project also aimed to train the beneficiaries in fiberglass boat production for their livelihood. The boats produced will be provided to the fishermen beneficiaries and used for their livelihood. The Project Management team, headed by the Mun. Agriculturist and the Office of the Mayor, will decide how the fishermen will pay or how the cost of boat shall be recovered for production of subsequent units.

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released their counterpart funds for the procurement of supplies and materials needed for the production of this boats.

In a simple turn over ceremony at the office of the Mayor, Hon. Gemma G. Adobo, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos, Sr. Science Research Specialist of DOST 8, Provincial Director of DOST-Biliran (on Study Leave) handed the check to the mayor and witnessed by Ms. Maria P. Suson, the Municipal Agriculturist and the Project Coordinator and Mr. Victoriano C. Gunabe Jr. the Municipal Treasurer.

Equipment acquired by the project shall remain the property of DOST-8 unless they will be donated if the implementing team will find it beneficial to the target clients.

2015 DOST Scholarships Exams: 97% turnout in Biliran

Students humble themselves in prayer before the test

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The DOST Biliran registered 97% turn out of examinees during the recently conducted DOST-SEI Scholarships Examinations for 2015. A total of 309 out of the 319 registered applicants were able to take the examinations and have their chance to be chosen as DOST scholars by the first semester of SY 2015-2016. Results of the said tests will be out by March 2015.

Biliran registered 45% increase of applicants based on official records. Last year Biliran received a total of 212 applications. Twelve of those who took the 2013 tests passed and are now enjoying privileges as DOST scholars in different schools in Region VIII and the NCR (Read related story).

The increase in participation was due to the intensive campaign headed by the DOST-8 Human Resource Development Unit through Engr. Ramil T. Uy, Sr. Science Research Specialist. In Biliran, Ms. Ma. Catherine G. Maniba, Officer-in-Charge of DOST Biliran PSTC conducted information caravan throughout the Province to convince all schools to send their science and mathematics inclined students who are also performing well in their academics.

Support programs to boost the chance of passing the scholarships were also conducted throughout the region. This include the conduct of weekend reviews in various locations. In Biliran the review classes were conducted at Naval School of Fisheries, Naval, Biliran.

"This is just a pilot activity. If the result will be good, we plan to expand the review classes next year," Engr. Ramil cited during an ambush interview at the DOST Regional Office.

Parents of vying students express their gratitude to the Department by at least giving their deserving students a chance to be counted among the top scholars of the nation if they pass the DOST scholarships.