The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has attributed its “very good” +57 net satisfaction rating to its continued implementation of developmental programs that seek to provide solutions to the daily problems hounding the ordinary Filipinos.
The DOST welcomed the survey results conducted by a third-party survey firm for the fourth quarter of 2020 showing that 98 percent of Filipino adults are aware of the agency,
Based on the survey, 66 percent of Filipino adults are satisfied with the performance of the Department with a very good net satisfaction rating of +57, which is an improvement from the very good net satisfaction rating of +51 in December 2019, it noted.
"These encouraging figures reflect the DOST’s continued efforts in implementing different development programs that give meaning to its mantra of science for the people,” the DOST said in a statement.
The Department cited that it has been developing projects, programs, and knowledge products and services that focus on needed research and development initiatives and innovation in the following areas: agricultural productivity; enterprise development; health and nutrition; scholarships and science education; industry competitiveness; emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, space science and satellite technology; information and communication technology; and disaster risk reduction and management, among others.
"Some of the programs of the DOST continue to provide the needed solutions to everyday problems besetting the Filipinos,” it said.
These include Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP); Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST); the Science for Change Program that includes the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Program, Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program, R&D Leadership (RDLead) Program, and Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program; OneLab Program; OneExpert Program; iFWD for Overseas Filipino Workers; Tuklas Lunas (Drug Discovery) Program; the Makinarya at Teknolohiya Para sa Bayan or MakiBayan Program; Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines or SARAI; Itik Pinas and Native Pig programs; and scholarship programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
According to the DOST, it also "aggressively responds to the needs of different stakeholders in various industries by creating and maintaining modern R&D facilities and technology hubs.” These are the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL), Electronic Products Development Center (EPDC), Packaging R&D Center, Innovation Center for Yarns and Textiles, and the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) for 3D printing.
The survey revealed that by geographical area, DOST’s net satisfaction is very good in Balanced Luzon of +65, in Visayas at +55, in Mindanao at +50, and good in the National Capital Region (NCR) with +47.
It also noted that by age, the DOST got a very good net satisfaction ratings across all age groups with +60 among 18-24-year-olds, +57 among 25 to 34-year-olds and 45 to 54 year-olds, and +56 among 55-year-olds and older; and +55 among 35 to 44-year-olds.
The same survey also found that level of awareness of Filipinos on news or information about science and technology (S&T) increased to 23 percent in the 4th quarter of 2020.
This is a marked improvement from the 6 percent awareness level in 2017, 13 percent in 2018, and 18 percent in 2019,it showed.
"The improvement in the level of awareness may be attributed to the intensified information and communication activities done by the DOST, despite the pandemic, to continue communicating science to the people,” the DOST noted, quoting the survey.
By geographical area, Mindanao registered 26 percent awareness level compared to 23 percent in Balanced Luzon, 22 percent in the National Capital Region, and 18 percent in the Visayas, the survey results showed.
The DOST said it was not surprising that the younger generation who are more technology savvy have a higher level of awareness at 32 percent among 18 to 24 years old and 23 percent among 25 to 34 years old.
Survey results found that awareness on news about science and technology is directly proportional to educational attainment.
Awareness is highest among college graduates at 48 percent, among high school graduates at 27 percent, elementary graduates at 13 percent, and non-elementary graduates at 3 percent, according to the survey.