Leading the way in S&T development has been the primary motivation of DOST Region VI in accomplishing its mandate to deliver various S&T services in Western Visayas. The services mainly focused on the strengthening of four (4) areas of S&T interventions: technology transfer and commercialization, technical and consultancy services, S&T human resource development and S&T promotion.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMERCIALIZATION
The different S&T interventions have been aggressively delivered with the implementation of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). SETUP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist MSMEs as well as private and government institutions to implement technological innovations in order to enhance their competitiveness and support the economic development in the countryside.
The program enables beneficiaries to address their technical problems through technology transfer and technology interventions to improve product quality, develop human resources, minimize cost, enhance waste management, and other operation related activities.
INNOVATION SYSTEM SUPPORT FUND (ISSF)
The ISSF is a major technology transfer and commercialization program under SETUP which provides assistance for the upgrading of existing production facilities of MSMEs/organizations as well as acquisition of other critical requirements in the production line. Primarily, it aims to improve product quality and productivity in order to ensure market competitiveness. Under this modality, the beneficiaries refund the total cost of the assistance to the government for three years without interest.
The program rationalizes and links all DOST services to address the technological needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the steadfast support and cooperation of DOST Provincial S&T Centers (PSTCs), DOST research and development institutes (RDIs), councils and other institutes of the department. Various modalities of technology transfer interventions and provision of technical services are provided under the program to attain its objectives. Areas of interventions include product quality improvement, human resources development, cost minimization, waste management and other operation related activities.
Priority sectors assisted are as follows: Food Processing; Metals and Engineering; Horticulture; Gifts, Decors & Handicrafts; Furniture; Aquatic and Marine; Information & Communications Technology and Health Products & Services.
TECHNICAL AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES
The regional office provides technical consultancy programs under the Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX), Consultancy for Agricultural Productivity Enhancement (CAPE), Food Safety, Cleaner Production, and Energy Audit.
MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY EXTENSION PROGRAM (MPEX)
The MPEX Program provides consulting services to MSMEs belonging to the manufacturing sector on productivity improvement. DOST Region VI in coordination with Guimaras PSTC deploys accredited consulting tea ms to assist clients, implement productivity improvement measures on both long term and short term basis.
CONSULTANCY FOR AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT (CAPE) PROGRAM
Provides consultancy teams to undertake technology improvement and enterprise productivity studies in micro, small and medium enteroprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural and aquaculture sectors.
CAPE aims to institutionalize effective farm management strategies, including transfer and commercialization of better technologies, to improve agricultural and aquaculture productivity.
FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM
The DOST VI Food Safety Program was established to promote the adoption of safe food handling practices among food processors and other stakeholders of the processed food industry.
PACKAGING AND LABELLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Packaging and Labelling Assistance Program intends to boost competitiveness through the provision of packaging services – from package development and trainings as well as laboratory and consultancy services, among others.
Experts are available both in-house and external to address the needs of MSMEs. DOST works with a network of partner institutions such as the Packaging Technology Division of DOST-ITDI, Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI) – Kauswagan Design and Packaging Center, Central Philippine University (CPU) PC-PET and various packaging centers based in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as well as local Government Units (LGUs).
ENERGY AUDIT
The DOST VI energy Audit Team is tasked to promote energy conservation and energy efficiency practices in the region. The DOST VI has acquired a number of equipment for use by the team in the conduct of audits.
CLEANER PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
Environmental policies require enterprises to reduce pollution and waste. With the high cost of investment to manage waste products as well as the ever-increasing cost of power and raw materials, many enterprises are already beginning to look for other ways, better ways, to improve productivity and waste generation. The adoption of CP Technologies is an alternative to improve the enterprise’s efficiency and productivity.
TECHNOLOGY TRAININGS
DOST VI gives high priority in the conduct of technology trainings, seminars and similar activities. This is primarily in recognition of the catalytic role of technology training in technology transfer and commercialization.
There are generally three (3) kinds of trainings being conducted by the regional office. The first are firm level trainings which are mostly requested by MSMEs either for upgrading of their existing technology or for acquisition of new technology which they intend to commercialize. The second are those that are requested by LGUs, NGOs and people’s organizations, trade associations and similar organizations. This kind of training is being undertaken in collaboration with other partners. The third type comprises public trainings that are implemented with strategic partners who participate in the planning, invitation of participants, collection and management of fees generated and the over-all administration of the activity.
REGIONAL STANDARDS AND TESTING LABORATORIES (RSTL)
The RSTL provides laboratory and testing services to industries, academe, local governmentv units, private institutions and individuals in Western Visayas. These laboratory services are critical in the product development as well as quality assurance requirements of our MSMEs. These services are likewise very important to our public institutions and local government units particularly in addressing public welfare concerns and consumer protection. The academe is likewise being supported in their research and development undertakings through these laboratory services. The laboratory offers chemical and microbiological testing as well as calibration services. It is accredited by the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (DOH-BHFS). It is likewise accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Office (DTI-PAO) based on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005. Among the wide range of analytical service capabilities that the DOST VI RSTL offers are the testing of food and water, both for physic-chemical and microbiological properties. It also offers calibration services, formula of conversion, consultancy services and use of facilities.
R&D MANAGEMENT
The DOST VI has made pioneering efforts in R&D management by strengthening its collaborative efforts and serving as base agency of two (2) R&D consortia namely, the Western Visayas Consortium for Industry and Energy Research and Development (WVCIERD) and the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC). These consortia were established primarily to provide a formal venue that would catalyze the redirection, focusing and consolidation of S&T efforts to address the various needs of the various sectors in Western Visayas. These
consortia also aim to achieve efficiency in research through sharing of resources namely manpower, equipment, facilities and funds. The DOST VI serves as host and secretariat of WVCIERD and WVHRDC.
S&T HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Human resource development aims at building future S&T capabilities through focused programs in basic and higher education. DOST VI offers scholarships for S&T undergraduate degrees, and scholarships and research fellowships at the graduate level. It also conducts science and mathematics competitions to motivate members of the academe and promote a culture of achievement.
DOST UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
The DOST provides scholarship assistance to deserving students who intend to pursue an S&T career. The following are the scholarship programs implemented in the region:
- RA 7687 Scholarship (RA 7687) provides scholarship slots to poor but deserving students whose families’ annual gross incomes do not exceed the poverty threshold limit. The scholar must pursue a course in the field of science, mathematics and engineering leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.
- DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship (MERIT Scholarship) is known also as Project 5801 Education or DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scientific Manpower Development Program. It awards scholarship slots to incoming freshmen who wish to pursue priority courses in the basic sciences, applied sciences, physics teaching and engineering at identified universities. The program is awarded to deserving students whose family annual gross income exceeds the regional poverty threshold.
S&T PROMOTION
S&T promotion and information dissemination aims to increase awareness and appreciation of technological innovations and interventions among the various sectors of society. S&T advocacies and linkages are likewise being implemented by the regional office through its PSTCs in order to better achieve the mandate of the Department.