The Philippine Association for the Advancement in Science and Technology (PhilAAST) with the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held an important discussion on pressing issues in their 71st Convention held at the Manila Hotel yesterday September 9 2022.
Attended by experts in the academe, business, government and the science community the event also invited former leaders in various field of expertise while some are former department head, this publication in particular is being invited by the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) one of the attached agencies of the Department of science and Technology (DOST) represented by their Director Dr Annabelle Briones.
Entrepreneur such as Ms. Robina Gokongwei-Pe was also invited for she has authored a book with former Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato T. de la Pena which relates to business and science. Dr. Diana L. Ignacio the PHILAAST President and DOST Asst. Secretary for Administrative and Legal Affairs heads the convention with Dr. Renato U. Solidum the current Department of Science and Technology Secretary while National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines’ (NAST) representatives Luningning Samarita-Domingo and Dr. Alvin Culaba were also present.
Food Security, Governance and Entrepreneurship are the main topic of the discussions, food security because President Ferdinand Bongbong Romualdez Marcos Jr. now heads the Department of Agriculture aiming to get the nation food secured before his term ends, governance because the President felt that the Agriculture Department is not geared on science which he knew a little about and entrepreneurship because nowadays people has to change mindset because people aren’t going to be wealthy being employed unless you’re also the boss of the company you’re employed in.
More or less the gist of the activity revolves in its theme accelerating transformation for sustainable development through science technology and innovation or in layman’s term just putting a bit of science to our everyday lives making the difficult task manageable.
The activity was also covered by the media virtually to avert the influx of gatecrashers and uninvited guests while some members of the press prefer on-sight coverage since a lot of government agencies and departments nowadays conduct face to face interactions with the press like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Anti-Red tape Authority (ARTA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Health (DOH), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
While still in the pandemic we also need to understand that we have to abide by the minimum health protocols of wearing facemask but some suggestions from the press says that potent information such as the sciences need people to people exchanges and face to face engagements. ///Mj Olvina-Balaguer, 09053611058, konekted@dzmjonline.net and maryjaneolvina@gmail.com DZMJ ONLINE MAKABULUHANG JORNALISMO YOUR HAPPINESS CHANNEL
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