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"Local technology works!" is the emphatic message of Secretary Mario G. Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Secretary Montejo said that the National Innovation Agenda dubbed ‘Filipinnovation’ represents the policy direction of the new administration. Citing the advances made by the science community in the past, he said that the country can count on Filipino researchers given a climate conducive for innovation; supporting and working with local firms to come up with products, services, and technologies that are competitive.

“Remember that we are encouraging complementation where initiatives are harmonized for the various disciplines to work together with the goal of making things simple yet beneficial,” Secretary Montejo explained.

What’s important, according to the new Science Secretary, is the Department’s effort of promoting technologies that have been developed by the Filipinos. “Another good side of this effort is that we are attacking problems via strong partnership. The government, academe, and private sector are working together towards attaining a common goal,” he added.

 

Solar power lit up the main campus of the Philippine Science High School in Diliman, Quezon City, a joint effort of PSHS Batch 1985 that’s celebrating its 25th year and the Wilfred and Bonnie Uytengsu Foundation.

“Our batch wanted to donate something that would have far more lasting impact than the usual monetary or material donations,” says batch president Farley Aguila. This led Aguila’s batch to Brightbox Inc., a media and technology solutions company founded by batch mates Jason Hernando and Ramil Sevilla.

“For us, it was more than just providing the school with long-term cost savings associated with solar-powered lighting. We wanted the students to experience this innovative technology firsthand,” Hernando and Sevilla explained.


The Department of Science and Technology’s Science Education Institute awarded the winners in the 2010 Gawad Leadership and Innovations for Development Relevant to Science Education in three categories during the Opening Ceremonies of the National Science and Technology Week July 19, 2010.

This year’s Gawad LIDER recipients are Dr. Simon L. Chua for Exemplary Leadership (individual category), president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild of the Philippines; University of the Philippines – National Engineering Center for Exemplary Leadership (institution category), and: Dr. Fortunato B. Sevilla III for Innovation, who teaches at the University of Sto. Tomas.

SEI Director Dr. Ester B. Ogena, co-chair of the award’s national steering committee said the winners are good examples that Filipinos can follow in changing the country’s science education landscape.

“Their work has truly helped us improve the delivery of science education services to the Filipino people. In the ever increasing demand to improve our country’s educational system, they are the guiding posts in our way towards an enlightened path in making education in the sciences truly responsive to the needs of our times,” she said.

 

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo (right) exchanges S&T views with Taiwan representative Donald Lee (middle) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office’s Economic Division Director Filas Chen (left) in a courtesy call at the DOST main office in Bicutan, Taguig City recently. The Philippines and Taiwan started a vibrant S&T cooperation in 1997 that expanded over the years through TECO and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office. TECO’s Commercial Secretary William Tsai (not in picture) joined the Taiwan group. [Photo by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service]

The Department of Science and Technology spearheads this year’s celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on 19-20 July at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

The science community adopted “Filipinnovation, The Way Forward” as 2010 NSTW theme even as it steers the country towards a culture of innovation. Filipinnovation is a combination of two words, Filipino and innovation. The latter term is lifted from the present innovation program of DOST which encourages the upgrading of the Filipino mindset towards innovation on products and services.

The celebration will also introduce DOST’s new Secretary Mario Montejo, who himself has produced a number of innovative products currently in commercial use.

The celebration will feature several activities such as business and scientific fora, S&T technology fairs and exhibits, trivia quiz for visitors and participants, and others. Regional celebrations and activities are likewise lined up throughout the year, including four regional technology fairs.

Organizers of the event hope that through these activities, the public will have a firm understanding of how S&T works to improve the quality of life of through practical applications of the technologies in their everyday lives.

For more information on NSTW, interested parties may call the NSTW secretariat at (02) 837-2071 loc. 2074 or visit http://nstw.stii.dost.gov.ph