DOST exec bets on Aklan shipbuilders

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_heading heading=’DOST exec bets on Aklan shipbuilders’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Monday, February 26, 2018
[/av_textblock]

[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]

New Washington, Aklan – Department of Science and Technology (DOST) officials are seeing a lot of potential in local shipbuilders in Aklan, as they innovate and incorporate clean energy sources into their designs for a hybrid fastcraft.

DOST secretary Fortunato De la Peña and undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Cristina Rowena Guevara recently visited the DOST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development-funded (PCIEERD) project that seeks to develop a hybrid trimaran fastcraft passenger-cargo vessel with multi engine and alternative energy source from ocean waves.

This project was initiated by Aklan State University (ASU)-New Washington Campus in partnership with Metallica Marine Consultancy, Fabrication and Services to address the Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) call for modernization to benefit shipbuilders and local community.

During the project visit, Guevara said that she will request DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) to help in the fabrication of pumps that will be used for the prototype vessel while. De la Peña said he will also request some of their Engineering scholar-graduates to work on the project.

In his speech, the De la Peña said that marine transportation is close to his heart. He added that when he assumed the position of being the secretary of DOST, he immediately conveyed his desire to prioritize marine transportation in which his main concern is on how to connect the islands of the Philippines to make it more accessible for the people to move around.

“We would like to attract investors in this particular industry,” said secretary De la Peña.

“Part of the commercialization effort will be the identification of practical routes for the trimaran,” he added.

Moreover, the public official expects to build capabilities in Region 6 particularly in the province of Aklan, where Aklan State University is among the major higher education institutes in this particular field. He expects that in the future, there will be an academic program that will support the efforts on shipbuilding.

Furthermore, the secretary hopes that MARINA will be able to come up with policies that will encourage modernization on this industry. MARINA promised to provide a technical guide during the construction of the vessel to ensure that the prototype meets the standards as well as assist during the test trials of the boat.

“We cannot afford to fail in this project,” De la Peña said citing major research and development deliverables in the next three to five years, namely in Health, Agriculture and Industry and Energy.

He further emphasized that industry and energy are his top priority of the three mentioned fields.

“For industry and energy, I will put this as the Top 1 of the top 3 in my priority list, we have the marine transportation, space technology, renewable energy, and our adventure into artificial intelligence,” De la Peña further said./PN
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full]