27 May 2021, MANILA –The DOST Advanced Science & Technology Institute (ASTI), in collaboration with the House Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, organized the "Masulong na Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Kaunlaran" Webinar. The event is an online public information awareness campaign that aims to shepherd DOST priority measures through highlighting science, technology and innovation (STI) programs and/or policy advocacies that needs legislation.

Welcoming guests during the start of the program is newly-appointed DOST-ASTI Director Dr. Franz A. De Leon, who highlighted the institute's current initiatives in producing technology-driven solutions more accessible to the public. "We aim to share with our guests and attendees how these innovations work and how they are relevant in the progress of the society," says Dr. De Leon. "In turn, we also hope that these developments help our respected law makers in providing legislative actions to further strengthen research and development in the field of science and technology in the Philippines." 

The webinar aims to highlight seven (7) of the DOST-ASTI's current projects and technical services, namely:  

• The Information Network for Open and Viable Applications and Technology Exchange (INNOVATE) Program
  • The Computing and Archiving Research Environment (COARE)
  • Philippine Research , Education and Government Information Network (PREGINET) 
• The Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation (PEDRO) Center 
• AI4Mapping 
• Meteorological Data Acquisition Station for Information Dissemination (MASID) 
• Gul.ai Technology 
• Kooha: A Social Sensing Network Application
• ASTI Digitalization Initiatives

Committee Secretary Donald Amado M. Caballero from the Committee on Science And Technology also shared a message from the Congress. "During these challenging times, research and development should respond to the needs of time and how to make projects that will be useful, accessible, and sustainable to the benefit of the community," says ComSec Caballero.

"By maximizing technology and adapting quickly with the situation, we are committed to maintain the quality of the services we provide to our countrymen," says DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña during his welcome remarks. "This is in the same way that DOST believes science is for the people. Thus, we are encouraged in creating technology-driven projects and programs by the Filipinos, for the Filipinos."

These initiatives were further highlighted by DOST-ASTI Director Dr. Franz A. De Leon during his presentation on the institute's legislative agenda, which centered around strengthening DOST's Electronic Product Development Center, the INNOVATE Program, and DOST-ASTI's current staffing/manpower.

"When successfully enacted, the DOST-ASTI can surely meet the increasing demands of delivering technology solutions in support of a productive and resilient Filipino society," according to Dr. de Leon.

Various questions on the presentation were raised by the guests, such as how DOST can protect our science and technology infrastructures from present and future risks and threats, as well as discussions on the DOST-ASTI's initiatives in contact tracing to help LGUs and the national government to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Given these, the resource speakers were able to expound on these by talking about the institute's new developments centered around artificial intelligence, high performance computing services, data storage utilization, among others.

The program was closed with a message from the Director of the DOST Legislative Liaison Office, Dir. Lita Suerte-Felipe. "The programs being pursued by ASTI is geared towards achieving a digital Philippines," says Director Suerte-Felipe. "At the core of all of this, is the modernization of ASTI as our lead  and premiere advanced science and technology research institute."

The recorded version of the webinar may be accessed via the DOST-ASTI's official Youtube Page.