In his latest weekly report to the Filipino people, Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) mentioned that the DOST’s new programs and initiatives are set to future-proof industries and the environment amidst the pandemic.

Among the programs the secretary mentioned are the Integrated Mapping, Monitoring, Modeling and Management System for Manila Bay or the IM4 Manila Bay Program and the Charted Dream.

The IM4 Manila Bay program aims to characterize Manila Bay and its watersheds and the link environments while the Charted Dream project aims to develop technology for the management and utilization of dredge materials from Tullahan -Tinajeros rivers system. The team from the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute and the Department of Public Works and Highways have already met to identify possible sampling sites and are already preparing initial laboratory analysis.

These projects are said to complement the government’s current initiatives in cleaning up the Manila Bay and its adjacent rivers and tributaries. “Sa kagustuhan nating mapaganda ang tubig at ang mga tributaries sa Manila Bay, mangangailangan talaga yan ng dredging,” De la Peña explained. “Ngayon ano ang gagawin natin sa made-dredge na materials at yan ngayon ang proyekto ng DOST-ITDI, iaanalyze para malaman kung ano ang pwedeng paggamitan ng dredge materials na iyan.”

The Tullahan- Tinajeros River system is a 27-kilometer long river system and a major tributary of Manila Bay. It spans from La Mesa Water Reservoir in Fairview, Quezon City, all the way to Manila Bay. It is one of the most polluted waterways in Metro Manila.

The secretary also mentioned other DOST program such as the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage the Philippine Economy or CRADLE.

The program aims to help create collaborative research and development between the academe and the industry by working with the private sector in identifying problems while academe and other research institutions provide science-based solutions.

Currently, there are 18 new projects from 18 private companies that have partnered with 11 universities to work in the areas of new pharmaceutical products, research on the dietary fiber of sugarcane bagasse and the natural antioxidant on sugarcane, development of new materials from carrageenan, “soysage”, a sausage derived from okra, and nursery tanks for shrimp production.

Apart from that, research will be conducted on the development of tomography imaging devices, semiconductor packaging and electronics products, and home energy storage and energy management.

The DOST Report is a weekly broadcast of the Science and Technology Information Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-STII) highlighting the various initiatives and innovations of the DOST aired live every Friday through the DOSTv Facebook and Youtube channel.