LAST week, June 20, around 700 participants coming from various industries and government agencies have gathered together and exchanged views and insights - and facing a compromising reality - on the state of science and technology in the Philippines. There were talks of enthusiasm and hope, as there were bleak and concerning outlooks with regards to its direction.
This was just the general summary of what transpired in AghamBayan: Technology and Innovation Festival. Other than the plenary sessions, around 39 exhibits were displayed at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, all were designed and developed by Filipino scientists and researchers at the University of the Philippines (UP). The whole event was organized by the UP community in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Perhaps one of the pressing issues raised in the discussions was the need of the government to acknowledge and adopt innovative scientific works made by Filipino scientists, especially in the field of agriculture and its allied fields. UP Los Baños scientists have been developing many scientific works and technologies - only to be bought and owned by foreign governments and companies, to the point of employing these Filipinos under their wings.
This was the path Dr. Gonzalo Serafica have took, but he was came back in the country under the “Balik Scientist” Program by the DOST, which was also became a law days after AghamBayan culminated.
Dr. Serafica excelled in the field of biotechnology and has put up his own company with various scientific patents and inventions in the United States. He was one of the speakers during the event and in one rare conversations at the waiting lounge he have shared insights.
He said that more than the government, it’s the whole sectors in the society should be involved to spark an interest in adopting scientific innovations that our nation’s agricultural landscape and economy that would become beneficial later on for everyone. There are already agriculture-based innovations ready for mass application, and it only needed a collective understanding and decision to adopt it.
As a returning scientist (2013-2015) in the country, one of his roles was to mentor students and professionals.
In Mindanao, he was associated at the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City, where he was expected to provide expert guidance for the eventual commercialization of hydroxyapatite (HAp) developed by the Materials Science laboratory; Help develop a process and establish possible collaboration on the production of microbial cellulose from indigenous materials; Deliver lectures on the production of microbial cellulose and on technology commercialization; and Co-advise chemical engineering and physics students.
It was only fitting that Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol was present at the convention, to listen to the Filipino scientists in the latest trends of agricultural reforms. After all, he himself is finishing his doctorate degree in Rural Economic Development in his home province in North Cotabato, at the University of Southern Mindanao.
He also shared in the plenary that his agency, the Department of Agriculture, is currently developing a mobile application, “Agri Help,” which would become a go-to virtual helpline for farmers to be assisted by DA personnel and experts on any agriculture-related queries or interventions.
That is actually one step forward in achieving an agricultural country embracing a smart agriculture as part of smart societies, that other countries have been doing for some decades now. But it’s also clear that our situation here requires thousands more steps in order to achieve that. Local farmers in rural barangays still require Internet connection, and perhaps even basic computer application literacy.
All of these, technology and innovation being exhibited in AghamBayan, and other scientific creations developed by scientists in the country, as well as in other universities, should have made an impact had it not for too much politicking in the social fronts. Filipinos are natural born scientists, it only needs to be harnessed, nurtured, and guided in order to appreciate the wonders of science and technology that can be beneficial in our society.
(nefluczon@gmail.com)