Davao de Oro State College, through “MICROGRIDTERPRISES in GIDA thru CEST” and with funding support from the Department of Science and Technology XI (DOST XI), conducted a two-day capacity-building activity on August 19–20, 2026, at Sitio Side-4, Barangay Mangayon, Compostela, and Purok 15, Barangay Awao, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, benefiting a total of 55 community partners.

The activity engaged 25 community partners from Sitio Side-4 and 30 community partners from Purok 15, Awao, with the goal of strengthening their capacity to develop and sustain viable community enterprises through practical knowledge, skills, and tools in enterprise planning, financial management, and market assessment.

The activity was supported by the DOST XI team, whose participation strengthened the collaborative implementation of the project in the identified communities.

Serving as Technical Working Group members and resource speakers were Jade Mark C. Salubre, PhD, and Judy Mae D. Dehan, MBA. They facilitated the discussions and practical exercises designed to help participants understand and apply key concepts in community enterprise development.

Through focused discussions and hands-on exercises, participants explored essential considerations in planning and managing community enterprises, including effective resource management and the assessment of potential market opportunities. The practical activities enabled participants to apply the concepts and tools introduced during the sessions.

Participants accomplished prescribed exercises related to enterprise planning, financial management, and market assessment. These activities helped them identify key strategic considerations that may guide their enterprise decisions and support the development and sustainability of their livelihood initiatives.

The activity also provided an avenue for community organizations to examine their enterprise needs and consider appropriate strategies for managing resources and responding to market opportunities. These outputs are expected to contribute to more informed decision-making and improved sustainability of their community enterprises.

The two-day engagement underscores the continuing collaboration between DdOSC and DOST XI in strengthening community-based enterprise development. Through the funding support and participation of DOST XI and the implementation of “MICROGRIDTERPRISES in GIDA thru CEST,” DdOSC continues to bring practical and community-responsive extension interventions closer to partner communities.

Through continued capacity-building and collaboration, the project contributes to DdOSC’s efforts to translate knowledge and expertise into meaningful and sustainable opportunities for communities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).