By Rizal Raoul Reyes | Contributor
INNOVATIONS initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have boosted local technologies which have benefited the inventors and the country, as well, that helped the Aquino administration to implement inclusive growth.
In a news briefing held in Pasay City, Science Secretary Mario Montejo on Friday cited the introduction of the hybrid electric road train (HERT) as one of the major innovations introduced by the DOST that would make an impact in the country’s archaic transport system. Friday’s event was the opening of the five-day 2015 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).
“The HERT has generated a lot of interest among local government units [LGUs] that are planning to develop progressive and efficient mass transit systems,” Montejo said.
“We talked with the LGUs of Cebu, Clark Freeport, Davao and they expressed optimism on the HERT,” Montejo added.
Recently, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) conducted a road test toward a possible rollout of HERT in Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares. CDC President Arthur Tugade expressed support to the DOST’s project, citing it as a major effort in solving the horrendous traffic situation in Metro Manila.
The train system also roamed the Mall of Asia on Friday in time for the NSTW. The HERT has five interconnected, fully air-conditioned coaches, four of which can accommodate 60 passengers each, or a total of 240 commuters per ride. The other coach carries the power generator.
Designed by Filipino engineers and made with locally available parts, the 40-meter train can run with a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour. It is powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric battery.
“As part of our innovation program, the HERT combines the qualities of mass transport with automobile technology,” Montejo said.
Montejo also cited during the news conference the Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), which has enhanced the disaster preparedness capabilities of the country.
“Through Project Noah, our country has developed the capability to develop long range plans and strong forecasting capabilities,” Montejo added.
In knowledge-development capability, Montejo said the Science and Technology Academic Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks (Starbooks) has provided the opportunity to students of underserved areas in the country. To its credit, Starbooks was a recipient of the 2015 Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects from the illustrious American Library Association.
As a digital library, he said Starbooks gives students from the remote areas the opportunity to increase their knowledge.
Montejo said innovations must be institutionalized to ensure sustainability. Meanwhile, Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II commended the DOST for the efforts in improving the lives of Filipinos by introducing technologies for education, business and the economy. He was the keynote speaker at the NSTW opening ceremony.
Also at the media briefing, Science Undersecretary Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara commended Montejo’s leadership for his consistency in implementing the policies set by the agency.
“One of the things why we like Secretary Montejo is his consistency in pushing the policies of the DOST,” she said.
“When Secretary Montejo says these are the projects and programs we need to achieve, we know it would be done,” she added.
For his part, Science Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre said the launching of the project on Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places will be a giant leap toward providing greater living conditions for Filipinos in rural areas.
Besides storing data, he also emphasized that the Internet can inform and empower citizens.
“Whether it is disseminating news and warnings about natural disasters or providing platforms to discuss issues concerning the nation, the Internet has shown to be an important tool in creating an informed citizenry,” he said.
Three scientists were awarded for their achievements in their fields during the NSTW opening ceremony. Windell Rivera, of the Institute of Biology of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, received the Eduardo Quisumbing medal for his “pioneering studies that has led to the understanding of the biology, diagnosis and pathogenesis of trichonomads in the Philippines with emphasis on Trichoomonads vaginalis which causes the sexually transmitted diseases infection called trichomoniasis.”
Dr. Marybeth Maningas of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, was the recipient of the Juan Banzon medal. She was awarded for her research on the “development of primers loop-mediated isothermal amplification of Philippine white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) isolates which specifically and efficiently detect the WSSV, one of the major viruses that has devastated shrimp agriculture globally.”
Dean Dr. Aura Matias of UP College of Engineering was the recipient of the Dioscoro Medal for her “outstanding leadership as the dean of College of Engineering, increasing the research outputs of the faculty members and engaging students in research by implementing mechanisms through Engineering Innovation Congress in UP, supporting students international competitions among others.”
Image credits: Alysa Salen