Filipino researchers from the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) bagged the "Encouragement Award" at the second Hitachi Global Foundation Award 2021.

Research and development achievements from 21 universities and research institutes in six Asian countries vied for the 2021 award.
The DOST-ASTI team submitted the research titled "Space-Based Management and Monitoring System for Watershed Protection."
" aims to develop a satellite-based monitoring system for forest and watershed resource management that will enable access to innovation on technologies through remote sensing and geospatial analysis," DOST Secretary Fortunato "Boy" de la Pena said in a taped report.
"Keeping pace with Sustainable Development Goals, DOST-ASTI along with its partner agencies forged a collaboration or data-gathering, strategic assessment, mapping infinitives, and forest and watershed preservation," he added.
De la Pena said the partnerships seek to integrate maps and data appropriate for forest and watershed monitoring, as well as aquaculture mapping such as the fishponds, fish cages, fish pens, seaweeds, oysters/mussels farm site management employing remote sensing and geospatial analysis.
Launched in 2020, the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award aims to promote science, technology, and innovation that contributes to solving social issues and realizing a sustainable society in Southeast Asia.
It also recognizes individuals and groups that served the public interests through their outstanding achievement in research and development in the fields of science and technology.