The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Male Dormitory in General Santos City was declared the grand champion of the 2025 ‘Best CEST Community’ award by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) during the culmination of the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) held here today.
The award recognizes the jail facility’s successful integration of science and technology-based solutions to significantly improve the quality of life for its community of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). As the grand champion, the BJMP GenSan received a total cash prize of P530,000—P500,000 for the main award and an additional P30,000 for winning a Special Award in Sustainable Energy.
According to former warden Jail Chief Inspector Lucky Mer Natuel, the partnership with the DOST-Region 12 through its Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program was crucial. The collaboration addressed critical issues such as unsafe water and limited opportunities, ultimately empowering over 600 PDLs through education, livelihood opportunities, and the installation of a clean water system.
The ‘Best CEST Community’ search, initiated in 2020, aims to highlight communities that have effectively used CEST projects to create tangible improvements. The CEST program itself is a DOST initiative that provides technology-based solutions in health, livelihood, education, and disaster resilience to underserved communities nationwide.
Other awardees included Barangay Potrero in Malabon City, which won first runner-up and a Special Award for Sustainable Circular Economy (P330,000 total), and the municipality of Ramos, Tarlac, which was named second runner-up and won a Special Award for Sustainable Health and Nutrition (P230,000 total).
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized the program’s broad impact, noting that 2,170 communities have been empowered since its inception in 2012. He stated that the DOST ensures science delivers practical benefits, from clean water to better livelihoods, for every Filipino.#
