DOST pushes for 30-year ‘foresight plan’ to solve PHL woes
THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) exhorted scientists, researchers and government policy-makers to craft a 30-year “strategic foresight plan” offering inclusive and sustainable solutions to the country’s woes.
“This is the perfect time to convene for solutions to long-standing concerns, especially that the threat of covid-19 and other infectious diseases has brought so many challenges to various disciplines ,” said Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña at the opening of the 42nd annual Scientific meeting of the national academy of Science and Technology Philippines (nast PHL) on July 8.
The Science chief is pushing for the creation of a strategic plan up to 2050 anchored on“inclusive growth and sustainable development” with the nast PHL, an attached organization to the DOST, tasked to submit it before yearend.
nast PHL acts as an advisory body to the President and the cabinet on policies related to science and technology by virtue of Executive Order 818 in 1982.
at present, the nast PHL has 72 members called academicians, 12 of whom were conferred with the Order of national Scientist.
“We have the tradition of meeting with the science community and our private and public partners and stakeholders in discussing and formulating science and technology-grounded recommendations on vital and current issues related to the country’s growth and development,” said nast PHL President rhodora V. azanza in her welcome remarks.
She said this is done through “regional fora and meetings culminating with an annual scientific meeting, which we are doing virtually this year because of the disruptive covid-19 pandemic.”
Solutions to long-standing concerns
THE three-day scientific meeting with the theme “Science and Technology for Society: Solutions to Long-standing concerns” gathered the country’s leading scientists and members of the science and technology community and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors to discuss five societal concerns and “formulate policies or implement guidelines in providing [for their] solutions.”
Topics in the plenary sessions focused on food system and health; energy and water; environment, climate change, and blue economy; information and communications technology, shelter, and other infrastructure; and science education and talent retention.
The meeting also discussed “learnings from the covid-19 pandemic.”
“To analyze and integrate the effects of the virus on various socio-economic sectors, the last two of the seven sessions are devoted to the new and evolving dispensation,” said academician reynaldo b. Vea, chairman of the meeting’s steering committee.
De la Peña said the topics were geared to “come up with efficient resolutions to help our government and fellow countrymen in overcoming difficulties through science, technology and innovation.”
He also said the meeting aimed to “bind all the members of the academe, researchers, scientists and government agencies across the country to share and profile their research with particular focus on the applications of science and technology for the Philippine path toward sustainability, resiliency and recovery.”
NAST STI foresight 2050
“THE pandemic has imbued this meeting with an additional perspective,” said Vea, who discussed the framing of the “30-year plan being crafted by nast for DOST” called the nast Science, Technology and innovation (STI) Foresight 2050.
“[The plan] will involve a national interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and participatory planning process with the goal to build up the country’s scientific capital as a basis for producing systems, processes, and goods for inclusive growth, sustainability, and competitiveness,” vea said.
He said the annual meeting would serve “as an opportunity and a vehicle to provide inputs” to the plan and “weave all of these various elements into a coherent whole.”
First day
On July 8, on the topic Food System and Health, academician (acd.) Eufemio T. rasco Jr. discussed “Feeding metro manila in 2050,” while acd. antonio miguel L. Dans spoke on “The latest data on diet and health.” acd. Edward H.M. wang served as moderator.
The topic Energy, Water, and Transportation Systems had acd. Filemon a. Uriarte Jr. talked on “Energy and water in the time of covid-19,” while Dr. Jose regin F. regidor, professor at the UP institute of civil Engineering, discussed “transportation system in the new normal. ” acd. aura c. matias was moderator.
The subject Environment, climate change and blue Economy was tackled by nast President azanza, who spoke on “blue Economy,” while acd. rodel D. Lasco talked on “climate change and Environment. ”Acd. marie antonette J. meñez served as moderator.
Second day
On July 9, ict, Shelter, and Other infrastructure was discussed by acd. William T. Torres through his topic, “Harnessing the digital ecosystems approach for small and medium enterprises, ”while acd. benito m. Pacheco dealt on “adapting the Philippine building act of 2020 with S&T innovations in regulations and standards for a new normal.” acd. guillermo Q. Tabios iii was the moderator. On Science Education and Talent retention, acd. christopher c. bernido talked on “Strategies for basic education under covid-19 conditions,” while acd. William g. Padolina spoke on “On Higher Education.” The moderator was acd. Jose maria P. balmaceda.
Jaime augusto Zobel de ayala, chairman and CEO of ayala corp., discussed “challenges under the new normal (geopolitical and socio-economic concerns)” under the topic The Way Forward. it was moderated by Vea.
Third day
On July 10, for the topic “learnings from the covid-19 Pandemic: Preparing for the new normal,” Health Undersecretary Dr. maria rosario S. Vergeire, spoke on “Ensuring health and safety of communities”; Dr. ma. regina Justina E. Estuar of the ateneo de manila University and project team leader of DOST FASSSTER, dealt on “enhanced disease surveillance;” and cabinet Secretary Karlo alexei b. nograles, also the co-chairperson of inter-agency Task Force for the management of Emerging infectious Diseases, talked on “addressing societal concerns: Economy, business and education.” The discussion was moderated by acd. Jaime c. montoya, also the executive director of Philippine council for Health research and Development of DOST.
montoya gave a “recap of the last two and a half days, ”acd. reynaldo b. Vea presented the “resolutions of the 42nd annual Scientific meeting, ”dr. Karl Kendrick chua, acting secretary of the national Economic Development authority, gave his response; and de la Peña responded for DOST.
nast PHL members are clustered into six divisions, namely, agricultural Sciences, biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technology, Health Sciences, mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Awards
awards were given to the best scientific poster, with acd. William T. Torres, chairman of the Scientific Poster board of judges, outstanding book/monograph, and outstanding scientific paper.
The nast Environmental Science award, nast Talent Search for Young Scientists, Outstanding Young Scientist award, oath-taking of new academicians and cms, and closing remarks of nast PHL vice president acd. Fabian m. Dayrit followed.
“The academy is mandated to recognize outstanding achievements in science and technology and help develop a reservoir of competent, scientific, and technological manpower for the country, ”azanza said.
nast PHL members are clustered into six divisions, namely, agricultural Sciences, biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technology, Health Sciences, mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.