The Department
of Science and Technology (DOST)-CALABARZON conducted a
Re-Echoing Seminar last
January 9, 2024, at DOST
CALABARZON, 3rd Floor
RFSQA Building. This
seminar is part of the Innovation, Science, and
Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-Based Development
(iSTART) initiative, with
active participation of Provincial Science and Technology Directors and staff,
and selected Technical
Operations personnel.
The seminar
commenced with a warm
welcome from DOST Regional Director Ms. Emelita P. Bagsit, who emphasized the importance of
the involvement of DOST
regional offices in the newest program of the agency.
She remarked, “Napaka-importante ng programang ito, kasi ito ‘yung
first attempt ng DOST as
an agency na mag-involve
dun sa ating mga LGUs
kung paano i-mainstream
‘yung STI dun sa kanilang mga plano at gusto
natin na maging bahagi
na agad tayo ng pagpaplano,” RD Bagsit added.
“Kaya ibinababa sa inyo,
it’s a great suggestion na
mai-share sa inyo ‘yung
knowledge when it comes
to conduct nitong ating
mga iSTART program na
ito kasi eventually ay magiging regular program na
natin ito.”
The event was a
significant step in the iSTART program, focusing
on Innovation, Science,
and Technology to boost
regional development. It
provided a platform to level-off the understanding
of the iSTART Program
and its ongoing efforts to
support local development
planning in the Philippines.
The seminar
agenda included key topics, starting with an update on the progress of
the iSTART project. The
subsequent discussions
centered around local development planning in the
Philippines, highlighting
the importance of integrating Science, Technology
and Innovation (STI) into
these plans.
Engr. Francisco
R. Barquilla III, the Assistant Regional Director for
Technical Operations of
DOST-CALABARZON,
discussed the iSTART
Project Background and
its significance. He mentioned that iSTART is a
planning tool designed to
strategically align DOST
technology transfer programs and projects, aiming to enhance Micro,
Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). How
ever, he emphasized that
its impact would be limited
if the focus remains solely
on MSMEs.
“iSTART is a
planning tool, eh, parang
masyadong limited if we
will just focus dun sa MSMEs. So what we did,
which is a unique feature
nung ating iSTART implementation sa CALABARZON is to lead iSTART
program with the smart
cities,” ARD Barquilla added. “And since we really
supported yung smart and
sustainable communities
programs of the DOST, na
yung lahat ng ating na plano sa iSTART will eventually lead to doon sa smart
citification nitong ating city
na ina-assist.”
The seminar
thoroughly discussed the
LGU Planning Framework
and the mainstreaming
process of the STI in the
LGU-mandated plans—
Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development
Plan (CDP). Additionally,
the Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (PLANADES
Model), a strategic framework aimed at revolutionizing local development by
infusing STI components
into plans at the municipal,
city, and provincial levels,
was discussed. It also
served as the basis for
the creation of the iSTART
project. In preparation for
the smart cities in the LGU
beneficiary, discussions
also centered on the importance of effective communication strategies and
understanding community
perceptions and practices,
as revealed through the
Knowledge, Attitudes, and
Practices (KAP) survey.
Participants also engaged
in productive sessions discussing Communication
Plans and exploring KAP
Surveys, aiming to foster
an environment supportive
of innovation and technological advancement within local government units
(LGUs).
Emphasizing the significance of engaging LGUs
and industries, the seminar stressed the need for
tailored R&D projects to meet specific local needs,
thus creating an environment that seamlessly integrates STI elements into local development plans.
ARD Barquilla encapsulated this by saying, “Kaya natin ito ginagawa is to level off ‘yung
idea ng iSTART at Smart City in preparation natin doon sa mga susunod na buwan. So we really seek the support of the PSTOs…to coordinate
with the LGU to identify and to sell the idea so
we can seamlessly go through the process of iSTART.”
The Re-Echoing Seminar went beyond
being a simple discussion; it served as a testament to their collective goals, steering regional
technology-based development toward new possibilities. It highlighted the crucial role of collaborative efforts in nurturing innovation within communities, ultimately strengthening the nation’s social
and economic foundations.
