BACOLOD City – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has funded research and development (R&D) initiatives of various universities in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) through its Science for Change (S4C) Program.
DOST 6 regional director Rowen Gelonga and DOST 7 regional director Edilberto Paradela both discussed these efforts under the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) program during a press briefing on Thursday.
It was a part of the two-day regional scientific meeting held in Bacolod last week.
Gelonga said the DOST supports the establishment of specialized R&D centers in regions outside Metro Manila and Region 4 areas through the NICER program.
In Western Visayas, there are two approved NICER centers for 2017 to 2018.
One is located at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas in Miagao, Iloilo. It involves two projects – an aquaculture center and a food safety research center.
The other is a specialized center for packaging technology at the Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo City.
Gelonga said CPU is the only university in Southeast Asia that offers a degree in packaging engineering.
“We are slowly strengthening the curricular offering by expanding our presence in R&D,” he added.
In Negros Occidental, the DOST is working out proposals with the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College and the Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas to host R&D centers specializing in metals and fabrication.
This is to address the demands of the sugar industry and the food processing sector.
In Central Visayas, Paradela said the DOST has approved two NICER projects.
The Cebu Technological University hosts research centers on biodiversity and biotechnology in its two campuses.
Another center located in UP-Visayas in Cebu specializes in data analytics data storage. (With PNA/PN)
