NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is eyeing the island province of Biliran to be the face of one of DOST’s clustered projects, the Bluer Economy Project, for the Visayas.

According to DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang, Biliran was chosen to be the area for the initial implementation of the Bluer Economy Project of the DOST in the Visayas because it is easy to manage considering its small area.

“Madaling kausap ang LGUs, may political stability, kailangan din natin yan eh when we choose the location or an area,” Mabborang said.

(The LGUs are easy to talk with; There is political stability, we need it when we choose the location of an area.)

He added that resources like forests, sea, institutions, and waterfalls are present in Biliran, which he labeled as a beautiful province.

Mabborang said the DOST can pilot small things in Biliran, like the establishment of cold storage, aside from other areas to look into under the Bluer Economy Visayas Project, like marine transport, tourism, fisheries, food processing, resources from the sea, disasters, and probably technologies that are AI (artificial intelligence)-related and, information and communications technology-related.

He tasked Dr. Romeo L. Dignos, DOST provincial director, to find and explore many things that can be done in the province under the Bluer Economy Project for the Visayas.

However, the plan is not cast in stone because, as the project moves and progresses, there may be changes to make the response appropriate based on the perspective of the department, he added.

He said he already shared his proposal with the regional and provincial directors, and key personnel of the regional offices of DOST 6, 7, and 8 that attended the Bluer Visayas Cluster Meeting held on February 15, 2024 at Fragoch Tourist Inn and Hotel in this town.

He said that DOST, under his office, has earmarked some P140 million as support funds for the implementation of project proposals for the Bluer Economy Visayas Project, to which he encouraged the regional offices of DOST in the Visayas to start small projects that can be realized in six months and that can be considered quick wins.

Mabborang said the regional operation of the DOST divided the country into four major project clusters, namely: North Luzon on Smart Agriculture, South Luzon on Knowledge Innovation and Science and Technology Ecozones, Mindanao on a big program for bamboo, and Visayas, since an island region, is on blue economy.

Mabborang cited a study made by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), which claimed that marine resources are seven times higher than inland resources.

There is a need to develop and utilize those resources so that these can benefit many communities and many Filipinos in this area of the country, Mabborang said.  (MMP/RSV/PIA Biliran)