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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Guevara said there has been an increase in funding for research and development projects in Mindanao.
“Nong dumating kami ng 2016, 75 to 80 percent ng R&D napupunta po sa NCR (National Capital Region), Calabarzon, at tyaka Central Luzon funding... Dati ang budget ng 14 other regions ay mga 15 to 20 percent lang, dito sa Nicer(Niche Centers in the Regions) ang budget ng other regions is 70 percent [including Mindanao], ang laki ng share niyo,” Guevara said in an interview during the S4CP Summit Mindanao Cluster on May 27, 2022.
(When we start our term, the R&D budget of 75 to 80 percent is allocated to NCR, Calabarzon and Central Luzon...our budget for 14 other regions before is just 15 to 20 percent, but under Nicer, it has now 70 percent budget for other regions.)
According to DOST, for almost five years, there were 12 Nicer-approved programs in Mindanao with a total grant of P606.6 million.
Nicer Program is a DOST-Science for Change Program (S4CP) sub-program that provides grants to qualified Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the regions so that they can conduct quality research aimed at promoting regional development using their existing capabilities and resources.
According to DOST, for almost five years, there were 12 Nicer-approved programs in Mindanao with a total grant of P606.6 million.
Nicer Program is a DOST-Science for Change Program (S4CP) sub-program that provides grants to qualified Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the regions so that they can conduct quality research aimed at promoting regional development using their existing capabilities and resources.
Guevara said that there are four main challenges in Mindanao: inaccessible and unstable power supply, poverty, declining agricultural productivity, and healthcare inequity, which she said can be addressed through research and development (R&D).
In Davao City, one of the recipients is Ateneo de Davao University's Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC). The center is currently building and installing a working micro-scale solar thermal power plant that can generate steam for process heating and electricity.
MREC also constructed a floating marine integrated Ocean Renewable system installed in the Pakiputan Strait, Island Garden City of Samal.
DOST said there are innovation centers built at the University of the Philippines Mindanao, which is the Center for Applied Modeling, Data Analytics, and Bioinformatics for Decision Support Systems in Health (DSS-H), and Halal Goat Nicer in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP).
Other R&D Nicer funded programs are the Sea Cucumber in Mindanao State University-Naawan, Sustainable Polymers in Mindanao State University-IIT, Bamboo in Central Mindanao University, Native Chicken in Western Mindanao State University, Seaweeds in Mindanao University-TCTO, industrial Tree Plantation in Caraga, Maternal and Child Health in Davao Medical Foundation, and Cacao in University of Southern Mindanao.
In Davao City, one of the recipients is Ateneo de Davao University's Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC). The center is currently building and installing a working micro-scale solar thermal power plant that can generate steam for process heating and electricity.
MREC also constructed a floating marine integrated Ocean Renewable system installed in the Pakiputan Strait, Island Garden City of Samal.
DOST said there are innovation centers built at the University of the Philippines Mindanao, which is the Center for Applied Modeling, Data Analytics, and Bioinformatics for Decision Support Systems in Health (DSS-H), and Halal Goat Nicer in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP).
Other R&D Nicer funded programs are the Sea Cucumber in Mindanao State University-Naawan, Sustainable Polymers in Mindanao State University-IIT, Bamboo in Central Mindanao University, Native Chicken in Western Mindanao State University, Seaweeds in Mindanao University-TCTO, industrial Tree Plantation in Caraga, Maternal and Child Health in Davao Medical Foundation, and Cacao in University of Southern Mindanao.
DOST also introduced Payment Innovation for Solar Home System (SHS) Ownership by Lay Away Routine (Pisolar), a system that provided electricity to households. There are currently 52 households provided with Pisolar in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged area in Mindanao.
Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1930456/davao/local-news/dost-notes-increase-in-research-development-funding-in-mindanao?fbclid=IwAR2c30ogKjZXKYw9g-WZ8ObWspX7-kPXLQRYlPQPS5ZqDzpvd6qELWT4G_M
