Director Romelan Tresvalles Urges Building “Smarter, Kinder” Communities Through “Agham na Ramdam”
In a speech opening the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW), Department of Science and Technology – National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) Regional Director Engr. Romelan Tresvalles framed the current era not as uncertain, but as “transformative,” and called for science that is felt and lived by all Filipinos.
The DOST-NCR today launched the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW), centering on the theme “Building Smart and Sustainable Communities.” In her opening message, Regional Director Engr. Romelan Tresvalles emphasized that true progress must be inclusive, arguing that the goal is not just smarter cities but “kinder, fairer, and more humane” ones where innovation acts as an instrument of empathy and equality.
Speaking before an audience that included DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., Malabon City Representative Congresswoman Antoinette Oreta, other DOST undersecretaries, and partners from government, academia, and industry, Tresvalles positioned science, technology, and innovation (STI) as the essential tools to address climate change, rapid urbanization, and social inequality. She stated the RSTW is designed not merely as an exhibition but as an open experience for all, reinforcing that “science is not a luxury reserved for a few.”
“What good is a smart city if it does not listen to the needs of its people? What good is progress if it leaves the poor behind?” Tresvalles asked, encapsulating the week’s driving philosophy. She introduced the concept of “agham na ramdam“ – science that is lived, shared, and experienced. This, she explained, is science that moves beyond laboratories and computer codes to manifest in farmers using weather data, young makers in shared labs, and barangay health workers employing new tools.
The RSTW 2025 serves as a platform to operationalize the DOST-NCR’s “Science Beyond Borders” campaign, which aims to dismantle barriers between research institutions and communities. Tresvalles described the event as a “call to action” to ensure technology serves humanity and innovation drives inclusion. Every forum and showcase throughout the week is intended to echo the message that science is fundamentally about inclusion.
Tresvalles tied the nation’s capacity for innovation to the resilient and collaborative Filipino spirit, witnessed in overcoming natural disasters and challenges. The ultimate vision, she concluded, is a future built “one idea, one innovation, one compassionate act at a time,” where DOST continues to provide solutions and open opportunities for everyone.
The annual RSTW is a flagship event of the DOST regional offices to showcase technological advancements, foster partnerships, and engage the public in the national STI agenda. The 2025 NCR installment underscores a strategic pivot towards community-embedded, human-centered science and technology development, aligning with broader national goals for sustainable and inclusive growth.#
