ISABELA CITY, Basilan—The development and benefits of science and technology in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was recognized by the Department of Science and Technology during S&T week here, an agency official said.
DoST Regional Secretary Myra Mangkabung said the celebration, hosted by Isabela City Mayor Rose Furigay and attended by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman, focused on the theme “Juan Science, One Nation,” in honor of the local S&T inventors and experts and to inspire the youth and other aspiring scientists to specialize in local technology.
Mangkabung stressed the importance of making S&T a way of life for all Filipinos.
She noted that the agency has provided technology innovation support to micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which boosted productivity.
Technical assistance and consultancy service were also provided to enhance the SMEs’ production capacity and competitiveness, while technology was transfer through the transition support program-small enterprise technology upgrading for established firms, “the Teknolohiyang Pangkabuhayan” featuring the agency-developed “water filter system,” and the “One-Stop-Shop” product development.
The DoST, Mangkabung said, has implemented 24 projects in Basilan—including four livelihood-generating and poverty-alleviating programs—out of 11 targeted works, garnering an accomplishment rating of 218 percent.
She added that during the celebration, she and Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi Chancellor Lorenzo Reyes signed a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a food innovation center “to produce agricultural and fishery food products by becoming the hub for innovation and technical support services for the food processing industry in the ARMM.”
Mangkabung enjoined residents “to utilize to the fullest extent technology and innovation for productivity and competitiveness.”