General Santos City – In the tuna capital of the Philippines, this city, a sea of people waited in line for the opening ceremonies of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) Regional celebrations organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office 12, August 11-12, 2011.

Themed “Nasa Siyensya ang Pag-asa”, the NSTW in South Central Mindanao is a convergence of players from the government, academe, and private sector.

In his message, Science Secretary Mario G. Montejo pointed out that the NSTW “brings into greater focus the vital role of the scientific community in providing solutions to long-standing developmental problems and challenges”.

Emphasizing the role of S& in the development of the region, particularly of General Santos City, lady Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said, “Applied sciences can provide convenience, accessibility and information that will create more livelihood and employment, and add value to more products and services.”

“Let us appreciate technology as a tool that will free our people from the clutches of oppression, poverty and ignorance,” she told the audience composed of scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, journalists, and science workers. “We need to mainstream DOST’s programs in Region 12.”

Alongside the Region 12 NSTW celebration, the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits likewise opened, jointly organized by DOST 12 and DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI).

In regard to inventions, Engr. Edgar I. Garcia, director of DOST-TAPI, underscored the importance of inventions and innovations in pushing the country to become more competitive by opening and expanding opportunities for industrial and intellectual properties. Engr. Garcia said, “The functional and user-friendly innovations that we will witness and discover at RICE 12 hopefully will contribute in helping the country move forward and keep pace with the changing times.”

GenSan fights dengue. The DOST-developed Ovicidal-Larvicidal (OL) Trap was launched during the NSTW 2011 Regional Celebrations themed ‘Nasa Siyensya ang Pag-asa’ in General Santos City on 11 August 2011. With OL Trap, the region hopes to curb the rising incidence of dengue cases. Shown in photo are (L-R) DOST Undersecretary Carol M. Yorobe, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, DOST-ITDI Director Nuna E. Almanzor, DOST Region 12 Director Zenaida P. Hadji Raof Laidan, DOST Region 12 staff, and DOST Undersecretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña.

The RICE is a support initiative of the DOST through TAPI for Republic Act 7459, also known as the National Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act of the Philippines. One of the provisions of the law, as implemented by DOST-TAPI, is the selection and granting of cash rewards to Outstanding Inventions (Tuklas Award), Outstanding Utility Models, Outstanding Industrial Designs, Outstanding Creative Researches (Likha Award), and Outstanding Student Creative Researches (Sibol Award) for high school and college students.

Dr. Zenaida P. Hadji Raof Laidan, DOST 12 Regional Director, amid the pomp and pageantry of the colorful Maranaw- and Maguindanao-inspired setting, encouraged collaboration among stakeholders citing enhancement of the innovation system. She said, “Let us continue working together to further enhance ad strengthen our innovation system by the harnessing an ecosystem of knowledge-based, market driven and technology enabled enterprises in Region 12 through synergy and strategic partnership with the community, local government units, adaceme, government agencies and private sector in developing a knowledge economy in Region 12”.

The DOST continuously recognizes the important role of inventions and innovations in national development as they help accelerate and sustain economic growth. (Aristotle P. Carandang, S&T Media Service)