The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) urged on Friday, April 16, the country’s researchers, policymakers and concerned stakeholders to give their all-out support to "environmentally-sound game-changing technologies and policies” to help ensure country’s economic growth and environmental sustainability.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña made the call during a webinar dubbed "Manila Bay Conversations: Initial Findings and Assessment from the IM4ManilaBay Program” initiated by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD)
"In the coming years, we will further strengthen our efforts to reduce environmental pollution an provide greater access to clean and safe water by generating environmentally-sound game-changing technologies and policies,” he said in a message.
"We encourage our researchers, policy makers, key stakehilders, and the general public to support and implement these kinds of initiatives and projects which are aimed at achieving the sustainable development goals through an innovative and integrated solutions,” he added.
The DOST chief expressed the agency’s commitment to continue pursuing research and development (R&D) projects that would benefit all Filipinos.
"As the priemier agency for scientific and technological activities, and of formulating policies, programs and projects geared towards national development, we, at the DOST will relentlessly and continuously pursue R&D projects for the optimum benefit of all Filipinos and make science work for the people,” he said.
"We believe that this is a good opportunity for all of us to deepen our collaboration and strengthen our scientific and technological research for economic growth and environmental sustainability,” he added.
De la Peña noted that the DOST through PCIEERD supported the two-year Integrated Mapping, Monitoring, Modeling and Management System for Manila Bay and Linked Systems or IM4ManilaBay program with funding amounting to P65.9 million.
Launched in January 2020, IM4ManilaBay program is composed of four component projects aimed at conserving Manila Bay.
“It aims to characterize Manila Bay and its watershed as well as linked environments to provide information for rehabilitation and management through water quality monitoring and mapping, hydrodynamic and hydrologic modelling, and dredge materials and solid waste management,”
The four project components are the following: Eco-System, Modeling and Material Transport Analysis for the Rehabilitation of Manila Bay or e-SMART, Management of Dredged Materials; Characterization, Treatment, and Disposal, also known as CharTeD DreaM; Integrated Waste Analysis, Survey and Technological Options or IWASTO; and the Development of an Integrated Mapping, Monitoring, and Analytical Network System for Manila Bay and Linked Environments, or MapABLE.