Achieving sustainable and industrialized region through Luzon RSM

Engr. Albertson Amante, one of the authors of “Vitune: Virtual Instrumentation Technology for Ultrasonic Non-destructive Evaluation of Concrete”, explains his scientific poster to the guests.|Photo courtesy of DOST-STII

By ROCHELLE L. CRUZ

OVER 300 scientists, academicians, researchers, and public officials convened for the Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting (Luzon RSM) last May 9 – 10 at Royce Hotel, Clark Freeport, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Carrying the theme of “Science and Technology-enhanced Transformation for Sustainability and Industrialization (2018-2030), this two-day scientific meeting provided an insightful review and discussion of the country’s performance in relation to President Rodrigo Duterte’s 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (6) Clean Water Sanitation, (7) Affordable and Clean Energy, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, and (15) Life on Land.

In his opening message, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña expounded on the keywords “Industrialization”, “Transformation”, and “Sustainability” of the theme by sharing how DOST contributes on industrial development. Moreover, Sec. de la Peña mentioned the Science for Change Program as a new strategy for transformation leading to industrialization.

Acd. Arsenio Balisacan, Philippine Competition Commission and NAST PHL Social Sciences Division Member, delivered his keynote address highlighting that Competition Policy is a way of development strategy to sustain growth and foster inclusive development. According to him, improving infrastructures and institutions as well as cultivating human capital, skills, and knowledge will recover lost grounds of economic growth.

Experts from government, academe, and private sector were invited to talk in the scientific meeting composed of four plenary sessions.

Aside from these talks, scientific poster session and resolutions meeting were also conducted.

Batangas State University’s Pres. Tirso Ronquillo and Engr. Albertson Amante, authors of “Vitune: Virtual Instrumentation Technology for Ultrasonic Non-destructive Evaluation of Concrete” won the Best Scientific Poster.

DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director Alexander Madrigal closed the ceremony challenging everyone to take part in achieving SDGs and pushing for inclusive economic growth.

This event was organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL) together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Luzon Cluster (NCR, CAR, Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, and V). Regional scientific meetings are conducted in preparation for this year’s NAST 40th Annual Scientific Meeting.

For more details of the event and copy of presentations, kindly visit NAST website through this link: http://nast.ph/