The National Apiculture Research, Training and Development Institute (NARTDI) has tied up with the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Santol and Bacnotan, La Union for the implementation of the Project CoBEED: Community-based Extension and Enterprise: DMMMSU-NARTDI’s Defiance to the Pandemic.

During the courtesy call with Mayor Magno A. Wailan of Santol and Mayor Francisco Angelito L. Fontanilla of Bacnotan on November 8, 2021,  the team composed of Prof. Carolyn A. Akilith, Mr. Arvin C. Tuyan, Mr. George T. Bondot, Dr. Venelyn L. Bersamira, and Mr. Lester E. Orpilla presented the concept of the project.

“I am overjoyed that this extension project will be started before I will retire this December” Prof. Akilith, the project team leader, said during a quick interview.  She added that it will be replicated in other municipalities in La Union.

On November 16 and 18, training on developing liquid hand soap will be conducted in Barangay Casiaman, Bacnotan, and Barangay Ramot, Santol, respectively. A total of 15 individuals from each barangay belonging to the poverty threshold will be the target participants of the project.

The training which supports the World Health Organization’s advocacy on hand hygiene for the prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases also aims at  enabling the participants to start a livelihood project on liquid hand soap making. (Lester Orpilla)