By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata
ORMOC CITY, Sept. 24 (PNA) — “There are four words that would summarize what we at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are doing — innovation for inclusive development.”
This was uttered by DOST Secretary Mario Montejo on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the Visayas Cluster Science and Technology (S&T) Fair scheduled in the city from Wednesday until Saturday.
He explained that innovation for inclusive development means that innovation must be felt by every Filipino.
As such, the government works on strengthening the country’s S&T-based innovation ecosystem.
“A strengthened innovation ecoystem will address persistent and emerging problems,” he emphasized.
Facilities, know-how and programs enable innovation to flourish according to Montejo.
For instance, to help address lack of potable water, the DOST has created the ceramic water filter (CWF). It uses red clay as primary material placed in a plastic container. CWF has a nano antimicrobial feature, which the DOST said is effective.
With regards to sanitation, meanwhile, DOST has developed the Eco-Sep– an organomineral treatment used in a self-sustaining and potable wastewater treatment system.
Montejo cited other problems that are being addressed through innovation.
“For nutrition, there’s the complementary food. For dengue, there’s the OL trap, among others,” he said.
He also noted that the agency’s approach is to rely on Filipino scientists than on foreign ones. (PNA)