STI Plan showcase the First Science and Technology Innovation of Benguet
Participants: Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Coordinating Committee: Governor Melchor D. Diclas – Chairperson, Dr. Sheila Marie B. Singa-Claver – Co-Chairperson, Joel Tingbaoen Jr. – Vice Chairperson. Office of the Vice Governor Ericson Felipe; Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members; PLGU Benguet Department Heads/Representatives; MLGUs/Municipal S&T Coordinators; Regional Line Agencies; Academe; Private Sector Representatives. DOST CAR Personnel Headed by Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog. Held on December 10, 2024 at the Golden Pine Hotel Restaurant, Baguio City. Photo by: Mario Oclaman //FNS
The STI Plan Launching event aims to showcase the First Science and Technology Innovation of Benguet crafted through the collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders in line with the celebration of the Benguet Adivay Foundation Day recently.
The STI Plan of Benguet was developed through the Innovation, Science, and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-based Development, or iSTART implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) initiated in 2023. The subsequent creation of the Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Coordinating Committee signed on October 17, 2024 was very instrumental in institutionalizing the STI organizational body in the province.
The crafting of the STI Plan aims to develop a centralized platform to collect, organize, manage information, mainstream and support investments and monitor Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) initiatives in the Province of Benguet.
Series of workshops and consultations were conducted to gather inputs from the PSTICC members composed of regional line agencies, local government units, academe, and private sectors, from 2023 to the early 2024.
Issues identified in the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan were provided with STI proposed Programs, Projects and Activities to enhance development across these sectors. Aligned with the province’s Vision of Benguet: a Haven of Sustainable Communities, the STI goals were identified to improve well-being of Benguet residents, increase economic contribution of industries through technology adoption, build sustainable ecosystem and resilient community, and initiate responsive governance.
Through collaborative efforts of the Provincial Science, Technology and Innovation Coordinating Committee, PLGU-Benguet S&T Task Force Team, DOST iSTART Team & Provincial S&T Office of Benguet, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Department of Community and Environment Resource Planning (DCERP), NEDA-CAR and DILG-CAR, the plan has been formulated.
The STI Plan was then presented to the Benguet PSTICC and PLGU S&T Task Force on June 25, 2024 for Consultation and was moved for endorsement to the Provincial Development Council for Adoption. It was further presented during the Benguet Provincial Development Council General Assembly on August 27, 2024. It was endorsed through PDC Resolution No. 2024-18 entitled, “RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND FAVORABLY INDORSING TO THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (STI) PLAN CY 2024-2028 OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BENGUET. It was subsequently adopted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and was approved by the Governor Melchor D. Diclas through Resolution No. 2024-1428 entitled, “RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND FAVORABLY INDORSING TO THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (STI) PLAN CY 2024-2028 OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BENGUET” dated September 16, 2024.
The development of Benguet’s STI Plan will serve as a strategic guide for national government agencies, R&D institutes, academe, private sectors, the local government units, and even foreign investors in sharing the resources and in coordinating and prioritizing programs and projects to be implemented in Benguet.
The launching of the STI Plan encourages collaboration, innovation, and commitment to realize the full potential of the plan, a solid commitment in attaining the shared vision of a haven of smart and sustainable Province of Benguet. #
