The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) takes center stage as it celebrates the National Science and Technology Week at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Lane, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
Adopting the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation: Working together for Growth and Development,” the celebration seeks to inspire more meaningful and productive technologies as a tool for growth and development.
During the opening ceremonies, Secretary Mario G. Montejo expressed DOST’s commitment to make science and technology (S&T) work for the good of the Filipino people through innovations in fields such as genomics, biotechnology, electronics, mass transit, and aquaculture, among other important areas of concerns.
Citing what he regards as one of the most important and timely accomplishments of DOST, Secretary Montejo prides on Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), an integrated flood early warning system in communities along 18 major river systems.
Project NOAH is part of DOST’s efforts to improve the country’s capability to deal with disasters, thus heeding the call of President Benigno Aquino lll for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines. It allows the public to see weather developments, the amount of rainfall and potential flooding in a particular area.
Expressing the Department’s commitment to build on top of what it has built, Montejo regards Project Noah as a building block that can serve as a tool for other important R&D outputs, such as using it in the near future to determine water level in the streets and other low-lying areas.
S&T advocates, supporters, workers, and enthusiasts, both in the executive and the legislative branches of the government graced the opening ceremonies. These include Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair, Committee on Science and Technology and the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), and Senator Loren Legarda.
In an impromptu message, Angara mentioned five “must-areas of innovation”: food and agriculture, health, energy, water, and efficient household.
Taking the highlight as keynote speaker, Legarda, on the other hand, challenged the country’s scientists to act swiftly and decisively to address the need to make the country disaster-resilient in the midst of the risks caused by climate change.
Legarda also spoke of the needed government support for the country’s scientists to be able to develop life and livelihood saving technologies. This she said, can be achieved by putting life into S&T to make it more attractive--in her own lingo--making it appear “sexy.”
Legarda is an Environment Awardee of the Privadarshbi Academy in Mumbai, India, and Asia Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.
In its bid to make S&T work for the Filipino people, the opening ceremonies also highlighted DOST’s collaboration with four major partner agencies: the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, and Department of Health.
Other personalities who graced the occasion were Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, Department of Agriculture; Secretary Sonny Coloma, Presidential Communications Operations Office; Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag, Department of Health; Congressman Angelo B. Palmones, AGHAM Party List Representative; and Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano, Department of Education.
The opening ceremonies winded up with the Science and Technology Awards. Award recipients were:
- Dr. Maria Corazon A. de Ungria, National Science Research Institute in Applied Research (Julian Banzon Medal);
- Dr. Christian Joseph R. Cumaguran, University of the Philippines Los Baños in Basic Research (Eduardo S. Quisumbing Medal);
- Dr. Carmencita E. Padilla, National Institute of Health for the Outstanding Science Administrator Award (Dioscoro Umali Medal);
- Rolando C. de la Cruz, et al. for the Outstanding Technology Commercialization Award (Gregoria Y. Zara Medal);
- Dr. Luis Rey Velasco for the Exemplary Leadership Award, Individual Category (Gawad Lider); and
- ABS CBN Inc. E-Media, for the Institutional Category
The Science Expo, which serves as a marketing and promotion strategy for locally-developed products and technologies, followed immediately.
Executive Director Jaime C. Montoya of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) chaired the opening and closing ceremonies, with Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), and Director Elizabeth E. Fontanilla of the DOST Administrative and Legal Services (ALS) as co-chairs of the opening ceremonies.