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Imee: PH lags behind in engineering research

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos (file photo)


By Reynaldo E. Andres
Contributor

BATAC CITY—While developed countries in the world owe much of their progress and development to engineering innovations and scientific breakthroughs that created new industries, the Philippines is still in the opposite situation and is now left miles behind for lack of these.

This alleged trend of engineering research in the country was revealed by Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos in her message that was read by Ilocos Norte provincial government administrator Wendell Chua before the more than 30 participants to the 2015 national engineering research symposium held at the MMSU Hostel last May 26-28.

The symposium was hosted and organized by MMSU aimed at uplifting the level of engineering research in the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country that might translate into world class products that will generate local employment and opportunities.

Reacting to the symposium’s theme—Philippine engineering research in the context of ASEAN 2015—Ms. Marcos said the Philippine government should learn from other countries’ models of development if it wants to create “entire new industries out of these advances.”

“With the 10 ASEAN countries integrating as one single economy starting this year, it’s entirely a new ball game (that we are about to play),” she said adding that there are a lot of issues and factors that made the country stands stalemate in the pursuance of these innovations.

One such factor is the very slow conduct of engineering research and development (R&D) that is causing a domino effect in terms of underutilization of these innovations.

But the governor said that with this kind of symposium, at least “we have a renewed thrust towards building a closer and better collaboration between the academe and the industry.”

Meanwhile, Engr. Samuel F. Franco, scientist and overall chair of the symposium, said the country is faced with problems of industrial under-development that can be traced to the relatively low level of engineering intervention in its economic development.

In a nutshell, Mr. Franco said that in order to foster a sustainable industrialization, development and utilization of the resources of the country, one should be focused on manufacturing of products.

“Filipinos should not rely on agriculture and service sector economy alone, but on putting more value to natural commodities to generate employment,” he said adding that one such approach is through engineering R&D.

Ms. Marcos also emphasized the importance of connecting the symposium’s theme to the ASEAN regional integration because of the essence of competition among these countries.

“In the ASEAN integration, while market is enlarged, competition is also multiplied,” Ms. Marcos said as she challenged the participants that when this scenario would be in full swing, “new opportunities for prosperity will emerge and then old uncompetitive industries will surely be washed out.”

The governor said that while we want to address the issue of competitiveness, we should look at science and technology as a necessary element to boost the country’s production stock.

“In my opinion, we can do it if we don’t want to be left behind,” she said adding that the symposium is an excellent venue to address some key issues concerning applicability and utilization of technology in our industries.


This collective effort, she said, will surely convert into a positive force that will provide tangible benefits to the country.

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