SIQUIJOR, Jan. 11 (PIA) – The Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC), the provincial arm of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the province, reinforces its 2018 target with upcoming new projects.

“Every year, DOST Siquijor receives request from interested micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) asking for technology assistance in terms of technology upgrading, technology needs assessment, provision of appropriate product packaging and labeling, and laboratory analysis, among others,” said Siquijor PSTC Director Engr. Mario de la Pena in a press release. 

He added that next year, the agency aims to reach out to more qualified MSMEs to avail of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). 

In his release, DOST-Siquijor Information Officer and Sciernce Research Analyst, Engr. ReinholdJek Abing, reported that as of October 2017, DOST Siquijor has assisted eight MSMEs and turned over a total of P3.9 million.

In 2018, the agency aims to meet or surpass that target, he said.

He also reported that the Science Education Institute (SEI) of DOST, the education arm of the agency, accepts yearly application for its Undergraduate Scholarships - RA 7687 and Merit - and Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS). 

DOST Siquijor aims to have at least two passers per municipality or a total of 12 passers provincewide, he said.

Another program is the DOST consultancy as one of the agency's holistic approach to assisting MSMEs. 

For a couple of years, mango farming was the priority sector for the Consultancy for Agricultural Productivity (CAPE) of the agency.

This year, DOST Siquijor PSTC will focus on the integrated farming in the province which was gaining traction thanks in part to the demand of resort and restaurant owners for locally grown vegetables and other produce. 

Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX) Program will continue to focus assisting DOST SETUP clients whose firms need to revise plant/processing area layout, update cost minimization methods, among others.

With other consultancy programs such as Energy Audit, Cleaner Production, and Food Safety, the agency is poised to assist in almost every aspect of the production process/area of the firm.

To further increase the S&T library holdings of the public schools in the province, DOST Siquijor aims to add STARBOOKS sites by providing one set of STARBOOKS to five identified secondary schools.

The agency has already received a proposal for funding from the DepED Division of Siquijor. 

In the wake of last year's successful conduct of Climate Science Youth Camp 2017, de la Peña said that this year, the Climate Science Youth Camp will be bigger and more exciting. 

Attendees will be coming from provinces in the Visayas region and some parts of Mindanao.

More interactive activities with scientists will also be held.

Abing also disclosed that a Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR) was recently installed in Bogo, Maria, Siquijor.  

DOST Siquijor envisions having same equipment installed in the San Juan area, as originally planned years before.

In the health sector, the rollout of RxBox in identified rural health centers in the province is expected to boost the health care capability of local health care providers.

Meanwhile, Siquijor State College through the endorsement and support of DOST Siquijor PSTC and DOST-7 submitted this year another proposal for funding from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of DOST.

Should it be approved, it will be the 3rd phase of the research which aims to document the folk healing practices particularly within the area in Lazi municipality where Señora River is located. (RAC/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Y. Abing, Science Research Analyst)

Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1003920