By Aira Juarez
ORMOC CITY, LEYTE – The Department of Science and Technology through the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) has successfully launched the 1st leg of the DOST Stakeholders’ Forum and Caravan in partnership with DOST Region VIII at the Ormoc City Superdome, Leyte last August 25-27.
The event was also in conjunction with the Eastern Visayas Regional Science Technology Week (EVRSTW) and the 31st Visayas Area Business Conference organized by the Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (ORCHAM).
Gracing the event were newly appointed Department of Science and Technology Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. with DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, DOST Region VIII Director Ernesto Granada and ORCHAM President Stephanie Diane Chu.
Department of Science and Technology officials led by Sec. Renato Solidum Jr., Regional Director Ernesto Granada, TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy Decena together with officials from Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce and City Government of Ormoc during the opening ceremonies of the Regional Science Technology Week at the Ormoc City Superdome. Photo by Mirielle Vacal
The three-day event served as an opportunity to provide an avenue for the businessmen in the Visayas regions (Western, Central and Eastern Visayas) to have a business dialogue with technology generators supported and assisted by the country’s premier science and technology department.
Various activities were held simultaneously including a stakeholders’ forum which aims to tackle the needs of technology transfer and commercialization in the country. There is also a business-to-business meeting with local entrepreneurs and a technology transfer exhibit at the Ormoc City Plaza Quadrangle which was open to the public from August 25-27.
Exhibit bringing science closer to the people
Strategically placed at the heart of Ormoc City, the exhibit set-up by the DOST featured various technologies in the fields of agricultural productivity, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) competitiveness and food manufacturing.
Lakbay Teknolohiya Para Kay Juan at Juana exhibit located at the Ormoc City Quadrangle.
“The whole point kasi is – it is Technology for Juan and Juana. It’s technology for the people. We’re putting it right in the middle of the city quadrangle. It’s free entrance to everybody who is interested kaya this is really technology for the people,” ORCHAM Pres. Stephanie Chu explained.
Among the DOST-supported technologies showcased in the exhibit were BIOGROE, Carragheenan Plant Growth Promoter, Mykoplus Biofertilizer, CNC Plasma Cutter, Pelletizing Machine for Goat Feeds, Prototype Mechanical Cacao Sheller, Queen Pineapple Bran, Protein Enriched Copra Meal as feeds, Coco log Extrusion Machine, Decorticating Machine for separating coco coir, peat and dust from coconut husk, Carbonizer, Sugarcane-Bagasse Textiles, Vacuum fryer, Modular Water Retort, Greenhouse Solar Dryer, and Cacao Roasting Equipment.
Some of the DOST-assisted and supported technologies featured in the exhibit and was presented during the Business-to-Business meeting with local entrepreneurs in the Visayas.
The DOST Chief, who led the opening of the exhibit and the EVRSTW, explained the importance of bringing science closer to the communities and increasing awareness of the technologies and services available to them.
“Today, we showcase the best of DOST to our communities. Technologies that have pushed boundaries and new ideas that offer opportunities that will truly benefit the people. Indeed, we have proven that science is an ally in finding suitable solutions to addressing the needs and concerns of our communities for an improved way of living,” Sec. Solidum said.
DOST Sec. Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. scanning the QR codes found in the centerpiece of the exhibit. Each QR code features photos, videos, interactive games featuring the different programs offered by the DOST such as SETUP, CEST among others. Photo by Mirielle Vacal
Dr. Solidum, who has been with the department for 38 years prior to becoming a secretary, also inspired public servants to put their hearts and minds in delivering science and technology closer to the people they serve.
“As public servants, let us put our hearts and minds into what we do, and integrate ourselves and become a community of collaborations so that we may invite growth and inspiration even in the most unlikely places,” Dr. Solidum added.
Bridging the gap between tech generators and the business sector
DOST-TAPI invited esteemed speakers in their respective fields to pitch the technologies supported by the DOST. The business-to-business meeting held at the SUTUWAKI Restaurant from August 25-26 were attended by local entrepreneurs, business enterprises and MSME’s interested in adapting technologies developed by Filipino inventors and researchers.
DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy Decena talks with Mr. Joselito and Mr. Olegario Paredes of Juanito Eco Farm School for Practical Agriculture, during the Business-to-Business Meeting. Photo by Mirielle Vacal
Mr. Olegario F. Paredes Jr., former President of the Organikong Magsasaka ng Rehiyon Otso, who attended the B2B, expressed his interest in adapting the Greenhouse Solar Dryer developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization. (PhilMech) According to Mr. Paredes, the technology will be useful for the growing cacao industry in Eastern Visayas.
In the 2016-2022 Philippine Cacao Industry Road Map released by the Department of Agriculture, Eastern Visayas committed a 5% contribution equivalent to 5,000 metric tons volume of production of cocoa by 2022. Through the possible intervention of DOST-assisted technologies such as the Greenhouse Solar Dryer, the DOST hopes to achieve the goals of cacao farmers in the region in having an increased and sustained cacao yields, and improved farm productivity.
Apart from the Greenhouse Solar Dryer, several businessmen also expressed their interest in BIOGROE and the Mykoplus Biofertilizer both developed by researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Improving technology transfer protocol in the country
One of the main highlights of the event is the stakeholders' forum conducted in partnership with the City Government of Ormoc at the Ormoc City Hall last August 25.
The forum gave way for the interaction among the business sector, academe, government agencies and other key players in the Technology Transfer to discuss issues that will improve the technology transfer protocol that the Philippines currently has.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena and DOST Region VIII Regional Director Ernesto Granada with Mr. Linnito M. Pascual of National Economic Development Authority during the hybrid DOST Stakeholders’ Forum in the Ormoc City Hall. Photo by Mirielle Vacal
In her speech, Director Decena hopes that the information that will be gathered in the forum may be used in publishing a Philippine Agenda on technology transfer and commercialization which will identify the priority areas and gaps that may be used as a basis for DOST interventions.
“We hope that this will be the beginning of our series of collaborations in the future to better implement enterprise development programs among local entrepreneurs or innovators in the community as part of your corporate social responsibility not only to help stabilize the economy but also in addressing societal issues in every life stage of the Filipino population,” said Atty. Decena.
The stakeholders’ forum and caravan in the Visayas is just the first among the four clusters which DOST-TAPI is planning to organize in the upcoming months. Next stop of the caravan is in Batangas City for the Southern Luzon Cluster, Ilocos region for the Northern Luzon Cluster and Zamboanga Peninsula for the Mindanao Cluster.
For more information, please contact 8837 2071 local 2151 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
