Showcasing the launching of projects, webinars to recognition of partners and a virtual exhibit, DOST-CAR conducted its annual National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) in CAR on September 21-24, 2021 via a hybrid platform (on-site and online).
With the theme “Agham at Teknolohiya: Tugon sa Hamon ng Panahon,” the NSTW in CAR is the regional celebration of the NSTW and serves as a pre-event to the national celebration in November.
“As a recognized platform of informed exchanges on important S&T issues, development and locally-made technologies, the NSTW in CAR aims to translate these promotional and informational campaign activities into more engagement with our customers and partners to science, technology and innovations,” said DOST-CAR Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog in her message during the Opening Ceremonies held on-site at the Fortune Restaurant in Baguio City and webcast via the DOST-CAR’s Facebook Page on September 21. DOST Secretary Prof. Fortunato T. de la Peña, DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, and Benguet Governor Hon. Melchor D. Diclas graced the event virtually.
“With this, we hope our stakeholders become more receptive to STI and that the science culture will continue to be strengthened,” she added during the event, which was followed by a Press Conference held in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-CAR).
Among the highlights of the week-long event was the launching of S&T projects across the region. The facilities and services of the Packaging Innovation Center in La Trinidad, Benguet were formally opened on September 21 while the CLEARS Project (Community-Level Evaluation and Assessment of Rain-induced Landslide Susceptibility)—which is a collaborative project between the DOST-CAR and the Kalinga State University that aims to enhance an existing guidebook for communities and develop a mobile application for site-specific landslide risk assessment in the region—was launched virtually on September 23. The DOST Enhanced Nutribun was officially launched with technology adoptors in the provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province on September 24, 2021.
This year, DOST-CAR, in its desire to give back to its institutional partners in the region in bringing S&T to the Cordillera people, held the first-ever Virtual Recognition of STI Champions in CAR. The awardee- partners include regional line government agencies, academe and media outfits.
Meanwhile, Talledo’s Miki Commercial in Abra won the coveted Regional Best Adoptor of the DOST-CAR’s Small Entrepreneurs Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) while the following firms held the respective provincial titles: J.D.’s Print and Sew Center (Apayao), Rienzi Natania Farm (Benguet), Balubal Sash and Furniture Shop (Ifugao) and Tabuk Concrete Products (Kalinga). For the Regional Best Community for the Community Enhancement through Science and Technology (CEST) Program, the municipality of Pasil in Kalinga won the award while the municipalities of Tublay, Benguet and Asipulao, Ifugao were the winners in the provincial level.
As part of the week-long celebrations, DOST-CAR held different S&T fora and webinars for stakeholders in the region such as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Local Government Units, teachers, students, researchers, and professionals from the private and public sectors. A virtual exhibit on the NSTW in CAR 2021 featuring the Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories (nstw.dostcar.ph) was also launched and is accessible post-NSTW.//Christian Robert M. Sandoval
