Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

PHILAAST, DOST Sec visit PHilMech
by Jett Molech G. Subaba (February 2, 2017)
The Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PHILAAST) headed by Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña and other DOST staff visited PHilMech last January 24, 2017.

This visit is part of the outreach program of the PHILAAST. This non-stock, non-profit scholarly organization aims to promote and broaden the base of scientific advancement in the country. PHilMech, as an R&D institution and with a pool of experts, was identified by PHILAAST as one of the agencies to be visited this year alongside Philrice, PCC and CLSU.

Dr. Montoya, who is also the current executive director of the DOST’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, presented the information about PHILAAST and encouraged the PHilMech management committee (ManCom) to join the organization. The ManCom responded to the call, thus an oath taking with the DOST Secretary dela Peña happened during the visit.

Moreover, Sec dela Peña during his talk, enumerated his agenda for joining the PHILAAST visit. First, he pointed out that mechanization is the one of the priority agenda of their department. Thus, he visits partner agencies in R&D and technology transfer like PHilMech.

He also reminded the agency about the RA 10055, the Technology Transfer Act of 2009, emphasizing his call for due benefits to the researchers. He also unfolded the new matrix the DOST is following in evaluating project proposals. He called it the 6p’s matrix which includes product, patent, publications, people, partnerships and policies.

Dela Peña also talked about the importance of developing the regions (the countryside), pushing small enterprise programs, collaborations with the regional offices of DOST and PCARRD, supporting the higher education sector and considering good aesthetic designs of farm machinery to be more attractive to the market.

Finally he announced the upcoming National Week of Science and Technology happening on the third week of July, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. He also encouraged PHilMech researchers to join the PHILAAST.

Secretary dela Peña looks forward to a stronger ties with PHilMech. “We hope that our partnership (PHilMech and DOST) will become stronger,” he closed.