The DOST gives the Dagupan village a “unsinkable” aid boat

DT | The DOST gives the Dagupan village a “unsinkable” aid boat | DAGUPAN CITY – Officials from Barangay Calmay were given a “unsinkable” portable boat by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Friday. The boat will be used for relief and emergency situations.

Ronald Pagsanghan, who came up with the idea for the boat made by Philtech, said that the boat can’t sink because it is made of materials that float and a rigid fiberglass flexi-polymer composite that makes it resistant to impact and able to stay afloat even if it gets broken.

He said that the boat could be used right away because it is easy to take and move around because it is made of light materials.

The DOST paid for the boat through the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program. It costs PHP650,000.

Belen Fernandez, the mayor of Dagupan City, thanked the national government for its help and said it was in answer to climate change.

“I need to be able to get to the barangay quickly in case of an emergency.” Malaking tulong ito sa oras ng kalamidad — This could be used by barangays next door in an emergency. “This is a huge help, especially during disasters,” she said at the handover.

Engineer Arnold Santos, who is the head of Pangasinan Provincial Science and Technology, said in an interview that Barangay Calmay was one of the cities’ communities that DOST thought needed a rescue boat.

“We did a community needs assessment in each barangay, and the result of their assessment was that they need a rescue boat,” he said.

Santos said that the CEST includes parts for making a living, education, lowering the chance of disasters and managing them, health and nutrition, and the environment.

Santos said that this year they will be focusing on coastal places like Dagupan City and Bolinao Town.

Even though Dagupan is an urban area, some of its towns, like the island barangays, are poor.

One of the villages that was looked at is Barangay Pantal, which will get a solar fish dryer. (via PNA)