BANSALAN, Davao del Sur (PIA)—A total of 63 Cacao and 367 coffee farmers in Barangay Managa, in Bansalan, Davao del Sur are the target beneficiaries of the plan set by the Science and Technology Office in Davao del Sur as part of the Smart Cities and Communities Project.  

The DOST XI-Provincial Science and Technology Office in Davao del Sur has provided funding support for cacao and coffee growers in Barangay Managa amounting to P459,000.

Leslie Pearl Cancho, director of the PSTO Davao del Sur said the purpose of this funding is to support scientific and technological interventions guided by project strategies based on five entry points of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Cancho said the funding can effectively leverage science and technology to drive sustainable development.

She said the funding support will facilitate the procurement of additional equipment needed to strengthen the cacao and coffee industry in Bansalan. 

Cancho said the LGU Bansalan and the DOST XI envision to unlocking the town’s true potential ushering in positive change to the community of coffee and cacao processors in Barangay Managa.

“It included meetings to coordinate efforts, assessments of the community's needs, visits to the project site, presentations, and evaluations. Finally, a memorandum of agreement was signed,” she said.

Cancho transferred the monetary assistance to the local government.   Christian Roy Moreno, who was then the acting Municipal Administrator of LGU Bansalan, formally received the funds in a ceremony witnessed by the DOST PSTO Davao del Sur project personnel.  (RVC/RGA/JSGD/PIA-Davao del Sur)