The implementation of a year-long project to improve livelihoods, nutrition, disaster preparedness, and access to science and technology has begun in Sitio Madaja, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI) formally launched the project on Saturday, August 30, with funding and support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program.
Entitled “Integrated Science and Technology Solutions for Inclusive Development and Peace Building in Sitio Madaja,” the project will run until August 2027 and bring science- and technology-based interventions directly to the remote community within the Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve (IHWFR).
The launch marked the start of several activities designed to address the community’s livelihood, environmental, health, and education needs.
Among the initial activities was entrepreneurial training for 15 members of the Madaja Handweavers Association (MAHAWA) and first-aid and disaster-preparedness training for 15 Bantay Gubat volunteers who help protect the watershed forest reserve.
At least 30 farmers also received seeds of squash, eggplant, and spring onions to support livelihood opportunities while contributing to food and nutrition security among families in the community.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)-Negros introduced healthier rice options to the community and conducted storytelling activities for children to promote awareness about avoiding rice wastage.
Wilmie Garlet, president of MAHAWA, said residents were deeply grateful for the assistance, noting that they had never imagined that their remote community would receive support from various organizations.
He said the project has given residents renewed hope and opportunities to improve their livelihoods and provide better lives for their families.
For the Bantay Gubat volunteers, the project also strengthens their long-running efforts to protect the watershed.
Christopher Abunda, president of the Bantay Gubat group, said protecting the forest is a shared responsibility. He noted that the volunteers have been helping safeguard the IHWFR since 1997 and have seen improvements in forest cover over the years.
The additional equipment and training provided through the project, he said, will further support their continuing commitment to protecting the forest.
What’s more?
Support for the weavers will continue in succeeding project activities. They are set to receive a tikog flattening machine developed by the DOST–Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC), along with a solar power system for the 15 weavers.
The machine is expected to make tikog preparation and weaving more efficient, while the solar power system will allow the women to continue working at night and reduce their dependence on conventional electricity.
Nutrition is another major component of the initiative. At least 80 identified undernourished pupils at Madaja Elementary School, along with personnel from the 94th Infantry Battalion, will receive nutrition interventions, including DOST complementary food products and ready-to-eat meals.
The project will also include training in meal planning and the use of Pinggang Pinoy to encourage healthier, more balanced food choices.
Beyond livelihood and nutrition, the initiative will bring science and technology activities to the school’s 109 pupils through the DOST-Science Education Institute’s Early Childhood Resources (E-CHIR) program. Activities will include the adoption and reproduction of science-related storybooks and other learning resources.
Madaja Elementary School will also receive a rainwater collection system, providing an additional water source while promoting water conservation and responsible use of natural resources.
The activity also brought together the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Kabankalan, Barangay Buenavista officials, the Himamaylan City local government unit (LGU), and community volunteers.
Their collaboration is expected to help ensure that the project’s science- and technology-based interventions respond to the community’s needs and contribute to improving livelihoods, health, education, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection in the remote community.*
