Home

DOST IX Takes Science For The People Festival to Zamboanga Sibugay

In its bid to bring the gains of science, technology, and innovation (STI) closer to the people to reduce demographic inequality, create opportunities for businesses and employment, and expand the potential for growth in the countryside, the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. IX (DOST-IX) will be conducting “Science for the People (SFTP)” Festivals in key locations in the region.

SFTP is a consolidated effort of DOST to bring S&T products and services to the countryside. This fiesta-inspired event aims to, among others: (1) reach and serve rural community folks, especially in places where regular access to government services is quite challenging; (2) introduce and demonstrate the beneficial applications of DOST technologies, programs, and services, which are all geared toward improving the quality of life in the region; and (3) promote collaborative efforts towards meaningful development through strengthening partnerships between DOST, other line government agencies, local government units (LGUs), private businesses, non-government organizations (NGOs), and local communities.

Through the SFTP Festivals, communities are set to benefit from the opportunities to be created by technology bazaars and exhibits, technology business fora, technology trainings, and nutri-feeding activities, among many other things.

For the first leg of its SFTP festival, DOST-IX has chosen the Municipality of Titay as its venue. Located at the western part of the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen), Titay is a humble yet thriving municipality that acts as the gateway for travelers headed for Zamboanga del Norte and the other provinces of ZamPen. Given its inland location and distance from the main cities, it is often found on the wanting side of science and its advancements. Thus, DOST-IX believes that it is the most viable setting for its first Science for the People Festival, which will be held at the Titay Municipal Hall on 22-24 May 2017.

Among the highlights of the 1st SFTP Festival include nutri-feeding program for children, sharing of products of DOST-SETUP-assisted firms to senior citizens, and a tree planting activity.

DOST-IX is inviting the public to witness and take part in this event. Everyone is encouraged to view the various technologies that will be showcased, which include those related to disaster risk reduction and management, improvement and/or development of business enterprises, education, and health. Admission to all of the activities during the Science for the People festival is FREE. (Bon Padayhag, DOST IX Press Release)

Breaching Medical Borders: Identifying Provincial Health Issues and Needs through Research

Health - and all issues that accompany it - is viewed quite differently from the provincial perspective. To combat a persistent cough, a person from the big city would most likely reach for a pharmacy grade Guaifenesin; a person from the far provinces however, would instead opt for a herbal preparation proven effective through generations of use.

Following this idea, one may begin to identify the many aspects that affect the chemical vs concoction decision-making process in the primary health care, such as accessibility, availability, affordability and acceptability of the cure.

Those aspects however just barely scratch the surface. Should a cheaper variant of the pharmacy cure be developed for the provinces or should a pharmacy drug be developed based on the provincial herbal mixtures? The rise of these questions merits the conduct of research for the development of solutions applicable for both the city and the provincial scene.

Recently, agencies behind the development of the Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA) began their provincial consultations to identify the health issues, needs, and concerns of provinces in region IX for 2017 to 2022.

On April 25, local health units in Zamboanga Sibugay gathered to discuss the province's practices with the Departmen of Health (DOH-IX), the Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD) and the Department of Science and Technology IX (DOST-IX).

The involved agencies focused on Identifying issues and concerns in health systems like governance, financing, workforce, the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), vulnerabilities and high-risk groups, and the overall health status of the province.

These consultations are scheduled to carry on through Zamboanga City (April 27-28), Zamboanga del Sur (May 2-3), Zamboanga del Norte (May 9-10), and culminate with a regional consultation (May 15-16), which will amalgamate all issues and concerns from the different provinces.

These issues and concerns will be translated into researchable areas / topics, which are then to be combined the RUHRA from other regions around the country, and will be brought up to the national level for a consolidated National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA). (Bon Padayhag, DOST IX Press Release)

Call for of 2017 Search for Outstanding Volunteers Nominees

The Philippine National Volunteer Services Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Search for Outstanding Volunteers (VOS) for individuals and organizations providing volunteer assistance in the Philippines.

The Annual search aims to recognize the unsung and ordinary Filipino citizens and organizations that have contributed extraordinary milestones for the country through their small, yet invaluable acts of service toward nation-building and national development. The SOV is the annual lead event culminating with the celebration of the National Volunteer Month (NVM) every December.

Nominations may be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office IX at Pres. Corazon C. Aquino Regional Government Center, Balintawak, Pagadian City on or before July 15, 2017.

Nomination forms may be downloaded at www.pnvsca.gov.ph

For more information, please visit the aforementioned website and/or call us at (062) 913 0168 or 945 0049