TARLAC: Seven local government units (LGUs) in the province have benefited from the P7.36 million grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) for their science and technology (S&T) projects.

Recipients include the provincial government of Tarlac, which got a chunk of the aid with P2.5 million. The municipalities of Camiling received P2.59 million, Mayantoc (P568,000), Moncada (P444,000), Victoria (P410,000) and Pura (P355,000). Tarlac also received a P495,000 DoST aid.

DoST provincial director Karen Dañez said financial assistance was awarded to LGUs assessed in terms of condition of their areas, sectors, livelihood, education, health and environment to identify technology innovation the department can provide through the Grants-in-Aid of the Project Municipal Innovation through Science and Technology.

“Strengths and opportunities based on the result of the assessment helped our S&T coordinators determine the appropriate project foreach LGU,” she said.

Dañez added Camiling town, with the highest financial grant, was under a research and development collaboration with Tarlac State University (TSU) for the product and packaging standardization of Chicharon Camiling.

“The ultimate goal is to make Chicharon Camiling the first Tarlac product to pass the Philippine National Standards through the help of TSU and University of the Philippines Los Baños,” she said. Dañez also cited the beneficiaries of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program intended for indigenous peoples in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Under the CEST program, the municipal governments of Bamban, Mayantoc, San Clemente and San Jose will receive a total of P5.67 million worth of S&T projects.

“Our identified projects include root crops/vegetable processing, nonfood processing, water filtration system, waste analysis and characterization study and production of organic fertilizers,” she said.

Additional projects include interactive multimedia teaching aids, biodiversity seminars, Juan-time clock with messaging board, and disaster preparedness and basic first aid.