The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) gathered the representatives of various government agencies, higher learning institutions and industry players in a conference on Thursday, November 28, 2019, at Palawan Uno Hotel, to build stronger industries in Palawan by addressing their research and development (R&D) needs.
Among the industries that attended were mining, agribusiness, food production, food processing, eco-tourism, and other enterprises.
Government agencies and learning institutions were also present such as the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coconut Authority, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palawan State University, Western Philippine University, Holy Trinity University, and other state colleges in MIMAROPA.
DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano emphasized the need to recalibrate their agency’s R&D directions to help the dominant industries in Palawan and in the region.
She mentioned some industry sectors in which the province has a competitive advantage such as marine and fisheries, cashew production, eco-tourism, and others.
She said that industries engaged in the production and processing of these products, as well as other major products in Palawan can be assisted in terms of their much-needed R&D.
“What are the R&D support and assistance that we can provide to the industries. In our Science for Change(S4C) Program known as CRADLE, the academe will do the research and the DOST will fund the research. Dun papasok ang DOST. There are 18 CRADLE projects all over the country. Unfortunately, wala pa dito sa MIMAROPA. Marami pa kayong R&D needs,” she said.
Engr. Pacifico T. Sariego III, provincial science and technology director of DOST-Palawan, explained that the conference is intended to provide an avenue for the industry to articulate their needs, the possibly collaborate with the academe and government to come up with science and technology innovation solutions that would address their concerns.
He further explained that this will also be aimed to inculcate to the different actors in the government, industry, and community, their significance towards attaining industry development leading to socio-economic developments
“This is also to complement and attune to the needs of the province. Research can lead to profit, maybe not for the researcher, but to the company or to the contribution to the local economy,” Engr. Sariego said.
Another important intention of gathering the different stakeholders and the industries is to establish and enhance ties with science and technology innovation communities and to identify R&D outputs that can be commercialized and adopted by the community.
Part of the conference is the five-minute presentation and pitching of nine teams from the different HEI in the region such as Palawan State University, Western Philippine University, Holy Trinity University, Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology, Occidental Mindoro State College. The pitching is to present briefly their innovations and technology for appreciation and adoption for interested companies and industries.
The last part of the conference was the consultation and negotiation with industry players. The group was divided into four groups such as agribusiness, value-adding, eco-tourism and mining.
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