DAVAO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) will open a three-day Science and Technology Week (NSTW) July 6 at the SM Convention Center here with a showcase of new technologies, including the country’s space science program.
DoST Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Anthony Sales said the NSTW in Davao will be the biggest so far featuring 80 to 100 technologies, compared to previous year’s event with only about 50 technologies.
Among these are the RX Box, a six-in-one tool to monitor the blood pressure and oxygen level that will be deployed to health units; water level monitoring system as an aid to monitor flash-flood; solar-powered starbooks; vertical helophyte filters used for waste water treatment; and manned aerial vehicles or drones.
Sales said one of the best features is the satellite technology with the largest receiving station to be constructed in Davao.
The satellite technology, Sales said, will help government in planning and decision-making for disaster because it monitors climate patterns.
DoST will also launch the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP 2.0) which is a follow-through of the first program implemented 15 years ago.
Sales said the SETUP 2.0 has an initial fund of PHP800 million nationwide of which PHP50 million will be allocated to Davao region.
Under this program, Sales said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will be given one year to implement their project with zero interest payable in three to five years.
“This time we are making our SMEs smarter that is, socially relevant, market-driven, agile, resource base on high technology content and resilient,” he said.
“In this way, we are addressing not only the economic concerns of our small and medium entrepreneurs but also resilient to disasters and hazards in the environment,” he added.
In the first SETUP, Sales said the DoST was able to infuse some PHP4 billion in investments benefitting over 20,000 small entrepreneurs around the country. Of that figure, about five percent were from Region 11.
SMEs were provided science and technology services and other technologies, such as on testing to ensure that they comply regulatory requirements not only for the domestic markets but also in other countries.
“These SMEs were able to improve productivity by at least 30 percent, which is quite high with an increased production volume and profit,” he said. (Lilian C. Mellejor and Digna Banzon/PNA)
