Dapitan City—The Department of Science and Technology – Regional Office No. IX (DOST-IX), through the Provincial Science and Technology Office – Zamboanga del Norte (PSTO-ZDN), has turned over 17 brand-new, food safety-compliant carts to the Dapitan City Pungko-Pungko Vendors Association. The initiative aims to upgrade the vendors’ food cart facilities to meet safety standards and improve business operations along Dapitan City Boulevard.
The turnover ceremony was led by Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos and DOST Provincial Science and Technology (S&T) Director Nuhman M. Aljani. Jay Roslinda, President of the Pungko-Pungko Vendors Association, accepted the carts on behalf of the beneficiaries. Other city officials and personnel were also present at the event.
This intervention is part of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) project in Dapitan City. Additional initiatives under CEST include the deployment of the STARBOOKS digital library to three local schools, capability-building activities on basic life support, and training for vendors on good manufacturing practices (GMP).
DOST has allocated more than P1.5 million in funding support for these projects, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to improving community livelihoods and public welfare through science and technology.
