ARMM lawmaker, 6 others are now Science and Technology Ambassadors

COTABATO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOST-ARMM) has recognized several individuals and institutions as Science and Technology (S&T) Ambassadors for their significant contributions to the development of science and technology in the region.

One of the awardees was Irene Tillah (Sulu, 2nd district), Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the regional legislative assembly, who was recognized as S&T Ambassador on Policy for her efforts in promoting the Science and Technology department’s programs in her district.

Tillah has extended full support to DOST’S projects such as Rxbox, a telemedicine device, and Starbooks, the first Philippine science digital library. Tillah, chairperson of the Committee on Women, Youth and Family Relations, also supported the establishment of the Philippine Standard Time in Sulu, a project of the DOST to synchronize time in the ARMM and the rest of the Philippines.

Aside from Tillah, DOST-ARMM also awarded Modrika Masukat, municipal agriculture officer from Maguindanao province, as a technology adopter ambassador, and Dr. Rosemarie D. R. Josue and Prof. Rowena Benavides, both from Mindanao State University maguindanao, as ambassadors on research and development.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Panglima Sugala in Tawi-tawi and the city of Lamitan in Basilan were recognized as supportive local government unit ambassadors. The department also recognized two S&T youth ambassadors, namely, Arman Ali Ghodsinia and Jai Aliyah M. D. Salliman. Also awarded ambassador as a DOST scholar was Ahalnida Majid Tambihasan.

The awards were announced during the region’s celebration of 2017 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) held recently in Sultan Kudarat. The NSTW is originally celebrated every third week of July through Proclamation No. 169 in 1993.

The S&T week aims at bringing science and technology closer to the people by letting them experience the vital role of science, technology, and innovation in improving the people’s quality of life, protecting the environment, and contributing to national development, particularly in poverty alleviation.

With this year’s theme ‘Science for People’, the celebration highlighted the significant contributions, innovations, and breakthroughs of Science and Technology in the lives of the Filipinos towards holistic countryside development.