By Alithea De Jesus
Photo from THEPHILBIZNEWS by Mau Victa
There is no denying that the only way to be extricated from the woes of the pandemic is through technology and innovation given the magnitude of disruption it has caused across all industries.
Banking on the homegrown talents of the passionate and patriotic Filipinos, the Philippines through Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will hold the 6th National Research and Development Conference (NRDC) on November 10 and 17, 2021. The virtual event entitled “Pananaliksik at Pagpapaunlad: Daan Tungo sa Pagbangon (Road to Recovery through R&D)” will showcase programs and technologies in support of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to recovery from the pandemic.
Since 2015, the NRDC encouraged coordination and collaboration among industry members, academic institutions, and research and development institutions (RDIs).
The event presents ongoing and completed R&D projects and programs, aligned to the priorities identified in the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) that will be useful or benefit of society and /or contribute to economic development.
“Our response to the pandemic should always be met with urgent action and collaboration with the policy makers, key government departments, local government and community leaders” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña. “The road to recovery demands protection of lives and livelihood. Such an endeavor must always be guided by the best available scientific solution.”
The event is open to the public and is organized in partnership with innovation movers in government, namely: the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Health (DOH), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
At the forefront of the event are public health interventions against COVID-19. To be unveiled is the progress of the SIBOL Program as an effective COVID-19 response. The Locally-Developed Electronic Stethoscope Prototype “E-Steth” Using A Phantom-Based Simulation System in the Auscultation of Lung Sounds will also be featured together with the updates on the studies of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) as adjutants against COVID-19. To address food security, agricultural technologies in disease detection with the African Swine Fever or ASFv Nanogold Biosensor Test Kit, organic farming and Mussel Depuration will be unveiled.
Programs in support of industry will highlight the ongoing projects under the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Program such as the Development of a Design Guideline Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for Semiconductor Packages. In support of the agricultural industry, the NRDC will showcase sustainable livelihood R&D like the Mangrove Crab Fattening Cum Fish Culture and Coconut Hybridization Scheme that will introduce income-generating opportunities for farmers.
The NRDC will also feature disaster risk reduction and management technologies for weather assessment and monitoring like the Severe Wind Exposure, Risk and Vulnerability Estimator (SWERVE) Project and Real-time Optical Aerosol Monitor (ROAM).
“We must allow science to lead the way in our road to recovery,” says DOST Undersecretary for R&D Rowena Cristina L. Guevara. “The Philippines should emerge stronger than the pandemic, powered by notable legislation like the Science for Change Program Bill that sustains scientific capabilities and fosters collaboration between the academe, the RDIs, the industry, the local community and the country.”
For those interested to attend, they may register via this link: https://bit.ly/6thNRDC2021. For further details, the NRDC website may be accessed at http://nrdc.dost.gov.ph/. Viewers may also go to the NRDC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dostnrdc.