Countryside development is the most effective and equitable strategy to achieve the Aquino administration’s pursuit of inclusive growth, Science Secretary Mario G. Montejo stressed during a meeting held at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 3 Office in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Speaking before provincial directors and staff, Sec. Montejo highlighted the importance of regional offices in promoting DOST services that can help small- to medium-sized firms to be more competitive, employ more people, and spur more wealth-creating activities in their locales so that provincial folk will no longer move to the big cities looking for jobs.
“Despite our successes, we need to convince more people about S&T and their benefits toward improving their lives. Sa ganitong paraan natin maipaparamdam sa kanila na nasa syensya at teknolohiya ang daan sa pag-unlad,” Secretary Montejo said.
The Secretary also challenged the DOST 3 provincial directors and staff to go the extra mile and exceed their original targets, particularly in technology commercialization and public assistance in their respective areas. He added that people in government service should always strive to be relevant just as how their entrepreneur-clients strive to remain in business.
The Secretary’s visit was part of his regional trips to visit and inspect SETUP project sites in Regions 1 to 3 and CAR. SET-UP, or Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program, is a DOST-wide campaign to encourage and assist small and medium entrepreneurs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and boost their productivity and competitiveness.
Firms that apply for SETUP assistance are able to address their technical problems through DOST’s technology transfer and other related interventions. Businesses thus improve their productivity through better product quality, human resources development, cost minimization and waste management, and other operation related activities. (Alan C. Taule, S&T Media Service)
