The Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST)Science Nation Tour (SNT) in Western Visayas, dubbed “AngSci-Ya, Sci-Yasa West V”, is a three-day event from February 22-24, 2016 that features different activities to make people :feel” science and technology in their lives.
One featured activity is the Tek-TiendaMicro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Product Fair formally opened by no less than DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo, a staunch supporter of Filipino entrepreneurs. The enterprises received assistance from the DOST through DOST Region VI headed by Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga. This event is being held at the SM City Iloilo activity center and is open to the public for free while parallel activities are held at the Diversion 21 Hotel, Eon Centennial Hotel for the Health Research Forum, Iloilo Esplanade and Philippine Science High School Western Visayas in Jaro, Iloilo City.
“DOST strives hard to support our local entrepreneurs by strengthening our Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP, a program that provides technical and financial assistance to our budding business entrepreneurs so that can be competitive both in the domestic and international market,” DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo said.
Featured in the entrepreneur’s fair are different and unique food products from very innovative companies Filbake Food Corporation and Trappist Monastic Food Productsand herbal food supplements manufactured by Herbanext Laboratories Inc.
“The DOST continues to conduct research activities and our local scientists and engineers never stop in developing new products, finding better and efficient ways of manufacturing unique and value-for-money products that are affordable to Mang Juan and Aling Maria, because we anchor our development initiatives in achieving inclusive growth in all sectors of our society,” stated Montejo.
Coinciding with the Tek-Tienda fair is the Mini Science Exhibits of the Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus. The science exhibits showcases the different experiments and projects of students from Pisay-Western Visayas, a virtual business incubation center where young minds explore the vast potentials of science and technology.
Other activities lined up for the event include the following: the Sci-Night S&T Stakeholders’ Night, a congregation of the different stakeholders who made significant mark in various fields of S&T and awarding of outstanding local government units, scholars, entrepreneurs, NGOs and government agencies; the Symposium for the Youth with National Scientists and Academicians held at the PSHC Western Visayas Campus in Jaro, Iloilo City; Inauguration of PAGASA’s Iloilo Doppler Radar and Synoptic Station; the Regional Development Council Meeting; and the Sci-Trip Visits to S&T Centers like the PSHS Planetarium and the Iloilo Doppler Radar station.
“We in the DOST conducts these Science Nation Tours in all the regions so that we can bring down to the provinces all of the DOST’s knowledge products for the last five years in the field of healthcare, enterprise development, agriculture, information technology, industry, education and disaster preparedness to provide equal opportunities for growth,” concluded Montejo.
