DOST XI hails Monkayo town as 2024 best CEST implementer in Davao Region

DAVAO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XI awarded the municipality of Monkayo in Davao de Oro as the 2024 best implementer of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program for product development in the Davao region.

In a press release, DOST XI regional director Anthony Sales said that the recognition highlights the remarkable progress Monkayo has achieved in empowering its communities through science and technology.

“We are proud of Monkayo’s success, which reflects the transformative power of Science and Technology,” Sales emphasized.

With over P17 million in funding, the CEST program transformed the town from a mining-dependent economy into a thriving hub of innovation. The sustainable livelihood initiatives paved the way for the growth of diversified industries.

The booming local industries include jewelry making and cacao production, which have thrived with crucial support from the agency through community training and the provision of necessary equipment and facilities.

Moreover, the press release noted that the town had significant investments in health and education through the introduction of iRice and Nutribun feeding programs, as well as the installation of STARBOOKS in remote barangays to improve access to learning resources.

Meanwhile, disaster preparedness and environmental sustainability were also given importance through significant initiatives like early warning systems and waste management projects, which further highlights “Monkayo’s commitment to holistic community development,” the press release highlighted.

While the award showcased how science and technology can uplift communities, especially in Monkayo, DOST XI hopes that the two will serve as a model for other localities in the region seeking sustainable growth.

CEST is a package of science and technology interventions aiming to build progressive, empowered, and resilient rural communities. The interventions include health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, livelihood/economic enterprise development, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Monkayo is the region’s national contender for the best CEST implementer in 2024.

Monkayo is a landlocked municipality in the province of Davao de Oro. The municipality’s competitiveness index has risen significantly, from 211th place in 2014 to 64th in 2023, along with a substantial increase in municipal revenue from P52 million in 2015 to nearly P580 million in 2023. (ASO/PIA XI/DOST XI)

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Tags: DOST, Monkayo
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