With sunny yellow as the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) unifying color on a mild gray Monday morning, the Department’s workers, officials and executives pledged their commitment to intensify their individual and collective efforts to achieve the “8 DOST Outcomes” on the so-called DOST Commitment Day held yesterday, February 3, 2014 at the DOST Complex in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Said outcomes involve the use of science and technology (S&T) interventions to enhance eight areas, namely agriculture, MSMEs, industry, IT-BPM, government service, healthcare, human resources, and weather and geologic hazards en route to national development for 2014 and beyond.

Clad in yellow shirts and clutching yellow balloons, officials and employees of DOST, its various agencies and advisory bodies, as well as representatives of its regional offices, gathered to pledge their commitment to the Department’s eight identified outcomes, the first of this kind of event ever held at the Department.

“As traditional industries are transformed and new industries such as nanotechnology are created, we need to ensure that our country be at a position of advantage in the global economy. We have to find our niches in order to compete effectively in high-value added sectors mentioned in the eight major outcomes and reap the many economic benefits this can bring,” said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo in his opening message during the Commitment Day ceremony.

Montejo also reminded everyone to deal more effectively with issues concerning negative responses to science. “Whether these feelings stem from false premises – for instance, the environment versus technological advance, or from a simple misunderstanding of the impact of scientific advance, we have to do a better job in reminding the general public about the virtues of science,” he remarked.

After his speech, DOST directors, employee association presidents, and Sec. Montejo himself formally signed the Declaration of Commitment on a larger than life-sized tarpaulin with the title “Juan Direction: Our commitment to the 8 DOST Outcomes.” Called the “Wall of Commitment”, this was installed at the DOST Main Office Quadrangle. All DOST employees and workers are expected to affix their signatures on the tarpaulin to signify their commitment to work hand in hand for the realization of said eight major goals.

The commitment signing was followed by the highlight of the ceremony – the releasing of the yellow balloons on which personal wishes for the Department, the science community, and the country as a whole, were written. Sec. Montejo led the balloon release before the 3,000-strong warm bodies, a number significantly greater compared with ordinary Monday mornings when flag ceremonies are held at the main office.

Representatives from DOST regional offices as well as agencies located in Quezon City and Los Baños, Laguna boosted the group’s number and upped the tempo for collective commitment as symbolized by affixing their signatures on the so-called “Wall of Commitment” and releasing balloons with their written wishes.

Titled “Juan Direction,” a phrase coined by the DOST community to refer to the concept of the Filipinos’ single, harmonized journey to progress, the DOST Commitment Day coincided with the weekly 8:00 am flag ceremony for government employees and served as year-starter for the Department’s activities and projects for 2014.

Sign up for the 8 DOST Outcomes. DOST personnel queue as they affix their signatures on the “Wall of Commitment” bearing the employees’ collective and individual declarations to work hand-in-hand to fulfill the DOST’s eight outcomes. Said outcomes involve the use of science and technology (S&T) interventions to enhance eight areas, namely agriculture, MSMEs, industry, IT-BPM, government service, healthcare, human resources, and weather and geologic hazards en route to national development for 2014 and beyond. (Photo by Henry A. De Leon, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)



Skyline balloons fly. The DOST family flies yellow balloons to indicate everyone's commitment in achieving the “8 DOST Outcomes.” The balloons are written with individual wishes of personnel so that the 8 Outcomes will be harmoniously achieved. (Photo by Val Zabala, S&T Media Service, DOST-NRCP)