Development researches were continuously undertaken during
the period. Linkages were established and forged among the
academe and other stakeholders specifically in research
collaboration and R&D management and implementation.
The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP)
was sustained by DOST 5. It provided assistance to small and
medium enterprises (SMEs), LGUs and SUCs in developing
technological innovations to enhance operational efficiency
and boost productivity and competitiveness. There were 20
technology upgrading/acquisition projects that were funded
and implemented under this program.
There were also 22 technology interventions implemented, 20
firms assisted and 3 new firms established under the
innovation system support (ISS). Other projects included the
Fish Processing Project in Calabanga, Camarines Sur, S&T
Intervention for the Displaced Residents Around Mayon
Volcano and a pipeline project on Technology Transfer Module
and Pilot Testing in Ragay, Camarines Sur. Technology
transfer and commercialization generated 2,189 new jobs.
The Bicol Consortium for Agriculture Resources Research and
Development (BCARRD) widened its coverage through the
establishment of additional Farmers Information and
Technology Services Centers (FITS). As a component of the
Techno Gabay Program together with the Farmer
Scientist Bureau (FSB) or
Magsasaka Siyentista, information, education and
communication (IEC) strategies, and Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) provided the farmers,
traders, researchers and other stakeholders access to
science and technologies. Technologies were also
disseminated through demo-farms, peer mentoring,
consultation with experts in agriculture and agribusiness,
fora and techno clinics.
Farmers and traders easily found markets with the advances
in ICT using cell phones and the internet.
A total of 693 tests and calibration services were provided
by DOST 5 laboratory. Sixteen firms were enrolled on
packaging and label design assistance. Experts were also
deployed to provide technical advisories and services on the
application and use of new and/or appropriate technologies.
The Consultancy on Agricultural Productivity Enhancement
Program (CAPE) was conducted which institutionalized
effective farm management strategies to improve productivity
in the agricultural sector through judicious application of
S&T innovations.
Several techno-trainings, briefings and fora were conducted.
These included the following: (a) pilinut forum; (b) malunggay utilization and processing; (c) food technology
forum and presentation of Nutrition School project; (d) 1st
Regional ICT Forum; (e) jatropha production and biofuel
processing forum; (f) mango growers’ forum; and (g)
techno-trainings on fish processing, handicraft making, soap
making, pineapple dehydration, dairy products enhancement
and marketing, and production of novelty items from bamboo.
S&T was also highly promoted through press releases, print
and broadcast, fairs and exhibit, press conferences and
media interviews, circulation of information and educational
materials, lectures, establishment and maintenance of
network linkages with various entities such as LGUs, NGAs,
POs, NGOs and the academe. These paved the way for DOST 5
to generate 13 projects co-funded by the LGUs.
The Gabay sa Mamamayan Action Centers (GMACs) were
continuously reinforced and provided people access to basic
services that regional line agencies offered. It provided
opportunity to people especially in rural barangays to avail
of basic information without having to go directly to the
offices of concerned agencies. In 2008, a total of 2,351
barangays have functional GMACs.
The S&T scholarship seeks to significantly increase the S&T
manpower pool of the country by providing more scholarship
slots for science and technology courses. The DOST 5
continuously implemented the program to serve S&T-inclined
youth that were not capable to pursue tertiary or
post-secondary courses.
III.
Prospects and Trends for 2009
Knowledge networks should further be enhanced for the
dissemination, promotion and utilization of the intellectual
capital. Productivity enhancing activities and best
practices will be continuously generated from among the
technologies developed through researches, technology
application, inventions and success stories of implemented
projects.
Focus shall be on the development of intellectual capital
and utilization of technologies to increase agriculture
productivity and improve indigenous resources and export
materials. This will directly benefit entrepreneurs,
farmers and workers.
Business incubation center in BU will be maintained and
other entities will be encouraged to establish and operate a
similar facility. E-governance for management info system
and procurement system and e-centers for advocacy shall be
expanded and improved by the local governments.
LGU and private sector participation will be encouraged in
technology development and utilization. LGU-SUC-NGA
collaboration, co-financing counterpart funding,
partnerships and joint activities will be promoted.
Human resource development through scholarship grants will
be provided to promote excellence in science and mathematics
to secondary and tertiary levels that will pave the way in
developing S&T experts.
Technology transfer and commercialization will be provided
to small and medium enterprises. Electronic access to
market information system will be operated and maintained
for farmers at the farm level to electronically access
accurate and updated market information, e.g. prices of farm
products and inputs. The digital and print information
systems and the electronic access to market information
system will be continuously linked to the farmers
information technology service (FITS) centers, farmers
scientist bureau (FSB) and the regional one-stop info shop (OSIS).
The program of DOST on Manufacturing Productivity Extension
for Export (MPEX) Promotion shall be pursued to help
increase the productivity of small and medium scale
enterprises in the Philippine. It recognizes the critical
role of SMEs in generating employment, foreign exchange and
stimulating growth particularly in the rural areas and
supports the national government’s call to refocus economic
policies to sustain growth.
All other programs and projects identified in the updated
RDP will be pursued to boost technological developments in
the region.
