Tuesday, July 26, 2016

ARMM celebrates "2016 National
Science Technology Week" 
Basilan Governor Jim Salliman Hataman, DOST-ARMM Sec. Myra Mangkabung and Lamitan City Vice Mayor Oric Furigay hold a press conference during the kickoff activity Monday in connection with the "National Science and Technology Week" from July 25-27, 2016.at Datu Dizal Cultural Center in Lamitan City, Basilan.

Thousands of students, youth, leaders and representatives from other sectors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) joined hands with science technology experts and top local government officials to observe the "National Science and Technology Week (NSTW)" taking place from July 25-27 at Datu Dizal Cultural Center in Lamitan City, Basilan Province.

Hosted by the city government of Lamitan City under the administration of ​Mayor Rose Furigay and Vice Mayor Oric Furigay, the various events with the theme " Juan Science One Nation," highlight the capability of local S&T inventors, experts and inspires the youth and other sectors in believing that Filipinos can do it and that local technology works.


It was graced by Basilan Governor Jim Salliman-Hataman as keynote speaker​ and some ARMM regional cabinet secretaries.

"The NSTW is the premier event annual calendar of the science community. It is celebrated since the 1950s...the various events, fora and exhibits are the perfect venues for technology developers and invetors, as well as S&T service providers and clients, to interact and pursue potential opportunities," DOST-ARMM Sec. Myra Mangkabung said in a speech at the Lamitan's cultural center.

Mangkabung added every NSTW celebration is designed to optimize every opportunity to make S&T a way of life for all Filipinos.

According to her, the theme for this year's NSTW celebration is a forceful phrase depictive of the vision and dream of every Filipinos to be productive and competitive to make both ends meet and keep abreast with global economic integration.

She said the gains and strides of science and technology in the fields of science, engineering mathematics and other technical disciplines bring science and technology closer to the people experience the vital role of science, technology, and innovation in improving the people's quality of life, protecting the environment, and contributing to national development particularly in poverty alleviation.

"For more than three years from Fiscal Year's 2013, 2014, 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, DOST-ARMM made significant achievements in the programs, activities and projects...it is implementing concomitant with its major final outputs," Mangkabung declared.

"DOST-ARMM made significant efforts in providing technology innovation support to micro, small and medium enterprises that enabled us to improve our productivity level.Technical assistance and consultancy service were provided to afford SMEs the opportunity to enhance our production capacity and competitiveness," she added.

In the field of technology transfer, Mangkabung said that for more than three years were enhanced through various strategies that would empower micro, small and medium enterprises as well as community-based entrepreneurs.

Technology transfer activities were implemented through the transition support program-small enterprise technology upgrading (SET-UP) for established firms, "the Teknolohiyang Pangkabuhayan" program for community-based featuring the DOST-ITDI developed "Water Filter System" utlizing nano technology-based training and capacity-building and the "One-Stop-Shop" product development, the DOST-ARMM secretary said.

For the province of Basilan, Mangkabung said twenty-four projects were implemented out of the eleven targeted for implementation generating an accomplishment rating of 218%.

"We have also put in place technical interventions through innovation to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the micro, small and medium enterprises as well as community-based projects," she said.

During Monday's event, Mangkabung and Chancellor Atty. Lorenzo Reyes signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the establishment of food innovation center at MSU Tawi-Tawi, College of Technology and Oceanography.

The innovation center is a facility that aims to produce value added agricultural and fishery food products by becoming the hub for innovation and technical support services for the food processing industry in the ARMM region.

Mangkabung also said for the province (Basilan) they have implemented four livelihood-generating and poverty-alleviating programs under ARMM HELP's to address poverty issues.

The four are bakery projects are located in Switch Yakal, Lantawan, Badja, tipo-Tipo, Pintasan, Mohammand Ajul and Batto-Bato, Akbar town. The MOA for the fifth bakery project in Bato Bato, Lamitan City was also signed Monday morning.

The projects were in response to the call of ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman. In the same manner, the PAMANA-MNLF capacity development project was implemented benefiting 291 MNLF communities and cooperatives, according to Mangkabung.

To address internet connectivity in the region, the government through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process allocated P50 million for the inter-connectivity with the 5 major sites in ARMM - Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Jolo in Sulu, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao, Marawi in Lanao del Sur, and Lamitan, Basilan.

"This is also coupled with the DOST-ICT project of OneConnect in which 98% of the total municipalities and cities in ARMM are recipient of the connectivity, both project primarily intends to bridge the digital gap in the region," said Mangkabung.

As they celebrate the 2016 NSTW, Mangkabung enjoined all and sundry to utilize to the fullest extent technology and innovation for productivity and competitiveness.

"Scientific concept and ideas, invention, photo-​typing and pantenting must be supported to encourage generation of new knowledge and discoveries. Reaserch, development and extension program must be enhanced and afforded all our researchers and end-users," she concluded. MGP News

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