LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Cordillera rallied officials and students of Benguet State University (BSU) on Thursday to continue pursuing researches that can help improve the lives of Filipinos.
DOST Cordillera Regional Director Nancy Bantog said they have persistently been pushing for science, technology, and innovation as the prime mover of economic development.
“It is my challenge to this prestigious institution to continue to be at the forefront in terms of research and development and in harnessing science and technology to provide responsive solutions to address present, recurring, and emerging problems not only locally, but globally,” Bantog said during BSU’s 102nd anniversary celebration.
“In our country, innovation is now taking a center stage in the country’s policy-making, as it is aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda,” she added.
Bantog said the government, through the DOST, aims to regionalize research and development (R&D) efforts to truly address the needs of the people.
She said her department has always supported the development of local technologies.
She cited, for instance, the DOST’s “Filipinnovation” program launched in 2007.
This focuses on four strategic areas — strengthening human capital, supporting business incubation and acceleration efforts, regenerating the policy environment for innovation, and upgrading the Filipino mindset towards a culture of innovation.
“While the DOST is the lead agency mandated to do research and development, there is a dearth in terms of the development of a science culture because we are not mandated to commercialize matured technologies developed by the department,” Bantog said. “And this is where technology adoptors must come in, to ensure that the government resources put into the development of technologies are not wasted.”
Bantog pointed out BSU’s vision to create more strategic milestones towards global engagements, which, she said, should start by looking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors.
“Take advantage of the ASEAN community, as it has already established a community with a wide array of opportunities for its members,” she said.
She added that the trade, economic, education, and research strategies and initiatives of ASEAN countries can be adopted or taken advantage of.
“The ASEAN goal of improving the lives of its people is reflected on the region’s economic and cultural development, social progress, regional peace and security, mutual assistance in training and research, promotion of Southeast Asian studies, and cooperation with regional and international organizations,” she said.
Global engagements, she said, have become even more possible with the advent of the digital revolution, noting the fast-paced development of information and communication technologies. **Primo Agatep/ PNA
