MENU

“There’s now a more conscious effort to use basic research and development outputs by the local leaders, from mayors, governors to house representatives, and we’re glad about this development,” Dr. Bernardo N. Sepeda, Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), said during the pre-event press conference for the coming 2023 Annual Scientific Conference and 90th NRCP General Membership Assembly.

The Department of Health (DOH) officially transferred the operations of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Philippines to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through a ceremonial turnover of the HTA Council and HTA Division from the DOH to the DOST on 06 March 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

DOH Officer-in-Charge-Secretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire and DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., spearheaded the said event, in compliance with the UHC Law mandate on the transfer of the HTA Council as an attached agency to the DOST within 5 years after its establishment.

There are three (3) barangays in Santiago Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan that are set to benefit from the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. I (DOST-I) this year.  

“The economic costs of volcanic and seismic activity can be steep.”

This is according to Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda during his sponsorship speech at the House Committee on (S&T) meeting on PHIVOLCS Modernization bills last February 21, 2023. 

Salceda explained that in the 1992-1996 period, when volcanic eruptions and seismic activity were especially damaging for the Philippines, some estimates suggest that losses were at USD 2 billion, which at today’s prices should now be around USD 6.25 billion, or a staggering P343 billion. The foregone income from Taal activity in 2020 alone could have hit as high as P6.6 billion, according to NEDA estimates.

To lay down priority programs and policies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and seek support from policy champions, DOST officials led by Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. paid a courtesy visit to House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin G. Romualdez on 22 February 2023 at the House of Representatives, Quezon City.

Secretary Solidum emphasized the need to enhance the capacity and capability of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to better provide services critical to disaster planning, preparation, and mitigation, among others.