NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – Two projects of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Eastern Visayas implemented under its Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program have helped boost Higatangan Island, the major tourism destination in this capital town of Biliran.
DOST implemented first a solar power generation system for use in the water purification facility established and managed at the Fidel Limpiado Memorial National High School (FLMHS) to cater the community’s need for potable water, said DOST-Biliran Provincial Director Romeo Dignos.
“Higatangan Island has the scarcity of potable drinking water,” said Leonora O. Mission, former principal of FLMHS.
Mission added that the DOST project made a positive impact to the school as it really helped the school provide a free potable drinking water to the students and the community in general since they have now a source of potable drinking water and no longer dependent on unsafe water from deep well and collected stocked rainwater.
Residents of the island are also happy because the produced purified water is much cheaper than what they buy from Naval.
Another DOST-CEST project is the Adoption of Eco-Sep Technology for Waste Treatment in the two selected tourist sites in the island. This facility is equipped with the eco-friendly septic tank that uses vigormin to treat wastewater from comfort rooms before it will be discharged to the ground or used to water ornamental and other type of plants.
DOST’s Innovation, Science and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology (iSTART)-Based Development Program, in which orientation and consultation was held recently at the Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), is expected to bring another development in Higatangan Island.
No less than Naval Mayor Gretchen Stephanie M. Espina proposed to Dr. Ramil Uy, DOST senior science research specialist, to have a collaboration with LGUs to maximize efforts and services in in the implementation of funded programs and projects.
Mayor Espina also suggested to Uy to make Higatangan as pilot area for iSTART in the region which utilizes the power of ICT in the island for tourism management and community development.
DOST’s iSTART program is the strategic alignment of the DOST technology transfer programs and projects, the engagement of researchers, scientists, and engineers, and the conduct of research and development needed to establish or improve micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in support for the development in the countryside. (MMP/MLT/PIA Biliran)
