Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) and the Department of Science and Technology-1 (DOST-1) through its Provincial Science and Technology Center-La Union (PSTC-LU) office provided series of workshops on Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Composting Methods, and UBE Processing to the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) beneficiaries in Santol, La Union. This was in collaboration with the Local Government Unit of Santol, La Union.

The series of workshops focused on the three of the five components of the CEST program of DOST in which DMMMSU is a partner implementer.

The Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction Management Training, under the DRRM/Climate Change Adaptation component was held on November 17-18, 2021. It aimed to equip barangay personnel to be disaster-risk ready and to update the Community-Based DRRM of Brgy. Lettac Sur, Brgy. Sabsaba, and Brgy. Sapdaan in Santol, La Union. The training was attended by the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers and the Barangay Tanods of the said barangays. The speakers were from the Bureau of Fire Protection Department of La Union and faculty members from DMMMSU-North La Union Campus namely Ms. Karen A. Ballada and Mr. Jomar J. Lucena facilitated the activities.

On November 19, 2021, Prof. Desiree A. Vilar, Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies at the North La Union Campus and Ms. Judy Ann M. Padilla, faculty member from the College of Agriculture of NLUC discussed on Composting Methods and Vermicomposting, respectively. This seminar under the Environmental Protection and Conservation component was attended by the barangay officials and farmer representatives of the three barangays.

Under the Economic Enterprise and Livelihood component, the Ube Processing and Product Development Training was carried out to the CEST farmers in Lettac Sur on November 23-24, 2021. Prof. Imma Concepcion G. Estabillo, Chairperson of the BS Food Technology program at the Mid La Union Campus demonstrated how to process Ube wine and how to cook Ube Halaya. (HBBSolimen)

Info Source: DOST-1