Bobon, Northern Samar - Calantiao, a remote village in Bobon, Northern Samar, has been recognized as the best Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) area in Eastern Visayas by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The award positions the village to represent the region in the national search scheduled for November 25, 2023, at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City.
According to Philippines News Agency, DOST Eastern Visayas regional CEST coordinator, Calantiao was selected for the program as part of DOST's commitment to support communities previously influenced by the New People's Army and monitored by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. The initiative aims to address socio-economic issues in the village to prevent support for left-leaning groups. In 2021, Calantiao received three projects from DOST CEST totaling PHP500,000, which included a rice mill, a water refilling station, and Starbooks.
Village Chief Nilda Sapatos highlighted the significant impact of these projects on the community. The rice mill has reduced transportation costs for local farmers and lowered the cost of milling rice, from PHP70 per sack for transportation and PHP4 per kilogram for milling, to just PHP3 per kilogram. The water refilling station has addressed water-related health concerns, notably reducing incidents of diarrhea since 2019. This station is supported by water from a PHP4.8 million water system project funded under the 2021 Local Government Support Fund - Support for the Barangay Development Program.
The Starbooks project, another notable DOST initiative, provides a standalone information source with a wealth of science and technology content in various formats. This kiosk is particularly beneficial to students and residents in remote and economically challenged areas, offering access to a vast array of digitized science and technology resources.
Sapatos expressed gratitude to DOST for the transformative impact of these projects on Calantiao. The village, situated in an upland area of Bobon, is accessible by a single motorcycle ride taking over an hour from the town center. It has also been identified by the Philippine Army as a beneficiary of a community support program due to its history of being affected by armed conflict.