BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. calls for  strengthened partnership with experts and science, technology and innovation (STI) stakeholders in pushing forward the country’s recovery and in building smart and sustainable communities.

Solidum stressed this  in his keynote message during the opening program of the Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting (RSM) at Orchard Hotel here, Wednesday (May 17).

“I would like to express my appreciation to the National Academy of Science and Technology and the DOST Luzon Regional Offices for organizing this 2023 RSM that brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss critical issues and identify opportunities for collaboration in advancing S&T for the benefit of the Filipino people.”

“We recognize the importance of partnerships in achieving our goals. Together, we can harness the power of S&T to drive inclusive and sustainable development,” Solidum said. 

The Secretary  shared that in support  to the socio – economic agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s for the country’s recovery from the COVID – 19 pandemic,  the DOST  is committed to the implementation of programs and services aligned with four thematic areas.

First, “promotion of human well-being” through acceleration of knowledge and technology generation and innovations that will ensure health, food security, access to clean water and green energy, and the generation of a strong cadre of human resources that will steer STI in the country.

Second, “wealth creation” through enhancement of the competitiveness and productivity of various enterprise, industry, agriculture, fisheries and other sectors by ramping efforts on technology transfer and commercialization of  research and development(R & D)  results creating higher value products and services.

Third, “wealth protection” through development and transfer of climate and disaster resilient technologies and providing STI – based information and services for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

And fourth, “sustainability” by strengthening R&D for environmental preservation and conservation, protecting R&D outputs through intellectual property protection and management and integrating smart practices to facilitate more open, collaborative, citizen – centric and digitally enabled governance systems.

The Luzon leg of the RSM was  the third and   last   after Visayas and Mindanao. The resolutions generated will be presented to the annual Scientific Meeting  scheduled in Manila this July.

While in Baguio , Solidum also visited the DOST – assisted R&D projects at the University of the Philippines and the S&T Intervention on Dairy Processing at the  Mountain High Dairy Cooperative.

The Secretary also visited the DOST – PHIVOLCS Seismic Station in the city.(JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)