The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Community Empowerment Thru Science and Technology (CEST) program is an initiative of the DOST that harnesses science and technology to address community challenges. It focuses on transferring technology-based solutions to areas such as health, education, and livelihood, especially for regions facing socio-economic hurdles. By integrating research and innovative practices, the program connects technical expertise with local needs to foster community development.
Designed to support groups in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, the program collaborates with local organizations, government units, and educational institutions. It directs resources towards practical interventions that improve quality of life, such as promoting technology transfer for better health, nutrition, and environmental management. Understanding the DOST CEST Program is important because it illustrates how scientific approaches can drive tangible improvements in communities that have been historically underserved. To learn about how you and your community can enjoy the same benefits, then, keep reading this guide.
CEST Program Interventions
DOST CEST provides various interventions categorized under five key areas:
1. Economic Development
- Technology-based livelihood programs
- Innovation support and funding
- Skills training for entrepreneurs
- Product development assistance (packaging, labeling, testing, and calibration)
2. Health and Nutrition
- Food safety training
- Meal planning sessions for households
- Installation of safe drinking water technologies
- Deployment of RxBox and OL traps for disease monitoring
3. Human Resource Development
- Science and technology (S&T) training sessions
- Scholarship review classes
- Provision of digital learning resources (e.g., STARBOOKS)
4. Environmental Protection and Conservation
- Promotion of eco-friendly technologies
- Waste management and recycling training
- Awareness programs on environmental sustainability
5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
- Provision of early warning systems and weather monitoring tools
- Collaboration with LGUs for disaster preparedness
- Training sessions on emergency response and climate resilience
Expected Outcomes
Upon successful implementation, the CEST program aims to:
- Improve income levels in beneficiary communities
- Reduce malnutrition and improve access to healthcare
- Enhance digital literacy and STEM education
- Promote environmental sustainability
- Strengthen disaster preparedness and response efforts
Features and Benefits
As mentioned earlier, this program was designed to improve the quality of life in marginalized communities through technology transfer, science-driven solutions and other initiatives that provide support in livelihood, health and nutrition, education, environmental conservation, and disaster risk reduction. Other features and benefits that come with it include:
Features:
- Targets specific communities, including geographically isolated, marginalized, conflict-affected areas, indigenous groups, and women’s organizations.
- Provides a comprehensive package of science and technology interventions in sectors such as health and nutrition, education, livelihood development, environmental conservation, and disaster risk management.
- Incorporates a structured application and evaluation process with clear guidelines and timelines, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Encourages partnerships with local government units, educational institutions, and non-government organizations for collaborative community projects.
Benefits:
- Facilitates the transfer of technology-based solutions that drive sustainable development in underserved communities.
- Enhances local capacities by delivering targeted training programs and technology interventions.
- Improves quality of life by addressing key community needs such as healthcare, food safety, education, and environmental management.
- Promotes self-reliance in communities through initiatives that increase alternative income sources and strengthen disaster preparedness.
Who Can Apply for the DOST CEST Program?
The program is open to various communities, particularly:
- Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA)
- Marginalized sectors
- Conflict-affected communities
- Indigenous groups
- Women’s organizations
Eligible Organizations:
- Registered organizations, associations, federations, and cooperatives
- Local Government Units (LGUs)
- State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
- Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
- Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, applicants must:
- Belong to one of the five priority sectors
- Be classified as a disadvantaged community under the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) or National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
Required Documents
Prior to application, interested applicants need to prepare the following documents:
- Letter of interest
- Project proposal (following the DOST CEST Project Proposal Form)
- Board resolution (if applicable)
- Certificate of registration from an authorized institution (if applicable)
- Endorsement letter from the Provincial Science and Technology Director
- Endorsement from the Local Chief Executive (mayor, governor, or barangay captain, if involved)
- Three price quotations for necessary equipment from qualified suppliers
- SB or SP resolution if an LGU-municipal or LGU-provincial entity is signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
- Barangay resolution (if SB or SP resolution is unavailable)
- Additional requirements as per Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2012-001
- List of officers and members categorized by gender, age, and other demographic factors
- Memorandum of Agreement (if partnering with LGUs, HEIs, NGOs, etc.)
Steps to Apply for the DOST CEST Program
To apply, here are the steps to follow:
Step 1. Prepare the Required Documents
Applicants must submit the required documents to prove their eligibility and complete the application smoothly.
Step 2. Submit the Project Proposal
Once the documents are prepared, submit the project proposal to the Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO). The process involves:
- Conducting a Technology Needs Assessment (TNA)
- Preparing the proposal and documentation
- Reviewing and endorsing the proposal
- Submitting the proposal to the Regional Office
Step 3. Proposal Evaluation and Approval Process
After submission, the proposal undergoes evaluation:
- Technical assessment by the Technical Assessment Committee (TAC)
- First evaluation of the project proposal and forwarding to PSTO
- Compliance with TAC evaluator comments
- Endorsement and submission to the Regional Office
- Final TAC report preparation
- Review and approval by the Regional Director
- Notification of the applicant about the decision
Where to Submit the Application for the DOST CEST Program
You can show your interest in the DOST CEST Program through the CEST Portal at cest.ph. Additionally, you may also contact your local DOST regional office, as applications are typically processed through them. .
Application Costs and Processing Timelines
Applying for the DOST CEST Program is free of charge. There are no application or processing fees required from interested communities, organizations, or local government units (LGUs). However, applicants may need to secure funding for project counterpart contributions if required by the proposed intervention.
The application and approval process generally takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the completeness of the documents and the evaluation process. Here’s an overview of the key steps and estimated processing times:
- Submission of Project Proposal – Conduct of a Technical Needs Assessment (TNA) (5 working days).
- Proposal Preparation with Complete Requirements – (10 working days).
- Review and Endorsement by the Provincial Science and Technology Director (PSTD) – (1 working day).
- Packaging and Submission of Proposal to the Regional Office – (2 working days).
- Technical Evaluation by the DOST Regional Office – Includes review by the Technical Assessment Committee (TAC) (3 working days).
- Compliance with Evaluators’ Comments – (3 working days).
- Endorsement to the Regional Director for Final Approval – (1 working day).
- Final Decision by the Regional Director – (1 working day).
- Notification of Approval and Next Steps – (1 working day).
The entire evaluation and approval process can take approximately 4-6 weeks (18-28 working days), depending on the complexity of the proposal and responsiveness of the applicants in providing additional information or revisions.
Video: DOST CEST Program
The DOST CEST program is a valuable initiative that utilizes science and technology to support marginalized communities, organizations, and local governments can gain access to resources that drive long-term development. For a more detailed visual on the DOST CEST Program, you may check out this video from DWSI-SMNI Santiago:
For more details, you may visit the official DOST or CEST website or contact your regional DOST office.