This year’s celebration of the Department of Science and Technology’s Regional Science and Technology Week in Cagayan Valley was a big success.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. underscored the importance of using science, technology and innovations “to make life easier and to have a better future.”
Other guests in the three-day event at Robinsons Place in Tuguegarao were DOST Undersecretaries Sancho Mabborang for regional operations; Dr. Leah Buendia for research and development; regional director Virginia Bilgera of Region 2; and national and local officials led by Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Ting Que.
Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. president Nelson Santos and other local media representatives also attended the event.
Solidum said the event with the theme, Agham at Teknolohiya: Kabalikat sa Maunlad at Matatag na Kinabukasan suggests that “it is really through science and innovation that we can really propel the economic development” of the Philippines.
What is really impressive, he said, is the large participation of Region 2. Solidum said he was amazed by the presence of various leaders and representatives of the private sector, civil society, development partners, government and other sectoral groups.
“The desire for innovation has led us to increase our effort and find effective ways to help the Filipinos,” Solidum said during the event’s closing ceremony on Nov. 18.
Mabborang commended everyone in DOST Region 2 “for their hard work in advancing science, technology and innovations in the region.”
He said this year’s RSTW would push forward its programs, projects and services to attain its goal of becoming the science, technology and innovation hub in the entire Cagayan Valley region.
The holding of the event in the region represented RSTW’s “comeback” to the region after a two-year hiatus amid the global pandemic. The celebration in the last two years was virtual.
“We know that the crisis forced us to adapt to new ways of working, educating and relating to one another, but it did not stop us from reaching out to our stakeholders including micro, small and medium enterprises, LGUs, the academe, public and private institutions,” Mabborang said on the second day of the affair.
Bilgera said the celebration “is another opportunity and a chance to recognize the immense contribution of our STI partners, their achievements through their sheer hard work, passion, perseverance and excellence amidst the pandemic and their battle towards the new normal.”
Awards were also given to winners of various categories such as in Science and Mathematics and Investigatory Project and S&T jingle competition.
The event also included exhibits and showcase of inventions.