The Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR), Saint Louis University (SLU), Bauko municipal government and Towadan-Bito Farmers’ Association (TBFA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the establishment of Cableways for Agricultural Resource Transport System (CARTS) in Monamon Sur, Bauko, Mountain Province on June 23, 2022.
Funded by the DOST through its Niche Centers for the Region (NICER) Program with a counterpart funding of 1.1M from the Bauko municipal government, this project is seen to address the lack of adequate infrastructure to transport agricultural produce through cable-supported infrastructure that are locally adapted to the terrain of CAR.
Farmers need to hire local porters to carry agricultural produce to the nearest farm-to-market road. The cable-supported infrastructure will provide an alternative system for transporting goods that will consequently improve agricultural activities and outputs in the province.
The DOST-CAR Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog in her message delivered by Engr. Angel L. Maguen, conveyed that this partnership is designed to help highland farmers to have safe and cost-efficient means of transporting their agricultural produce and increase farm yield through improved and innovative technologies. She also highlighted that DOST-CAR, in its advocacy of effecting change and development through Science, Technology and Innovation, will sustain its support to invaluable partners and stakeholders in the region.
Meanwhile, Mayor Abraham B. Akilit mentioned that this project is the first of its kind in their municipality and commended the DOST-CAR for having been their reliable partner in delivering technology-driven development in the municipality. He further mentioned that as he steps down as Mayor, he appealed for DOST to continually bring relevant STI programs in the municipality.
Mr. Joseph P. Banias, the president of Towadan-Bito Farmers’ Association, expressed his gratitude to SLU, LGU Bauko and DOST-CAR for identifying them as the beneficiary of the project.
The said project is under the Program Boondock: A Mountain Engineering Center Towards Sustainable Infrastructure and Upland Water Security which aims to aid in the preservation of the region’s mountains amidst natural disasters and urbanization through innovative engineering solutions. By DLQ
