DAVAO CITY (PIA)- – Grassroots innovation (GI) needs to be expanded and be mainstreamed as they are seen to help trigger the vibrance of the local economy leading to inclusive development, says Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr.
In his keynote address during the Grassroots Innovations and Circular Economy (GICE) Expo 2024, Dr. Solidum pitched this call for support for the GI sector as he noted that “GIs are still unappreciated and underfunded at the national level.”
“There also remains some instances of discrimination and stigma surrounding GIs, especially those developed by indigenous communities,” he said during the GICE Expo 2024 in Davao City conducted as part of the Regional Science, Technology and Innovations Week (RSTW) 2024 that DOST annually organizes to highlight the critical role of science, technology and innovations in the development of the society.
Dr. Solidum explained that GI sector expansion also highlights the Filipino value of empathy or malasakit as he closely associated GIs as a manifestation of a Filipino “madiskarte” trait of ingeniously looking for solutions to solve a concern relative to means of earning a living.
“These GIs are ideas emanating from the resiliency of the people usually from the marginalized and informal sectors, banking on the empathy of one towards his or her fellow member of the same community.
These innovations are usually found in far-flung geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) which have long been deprived of and hardly reached by services of the government and other entities, Dr. Solidum explained.
Through its Grassroots Innovations Program for Inclusive Development or the GRIND Program, DOST has so far documented 606 grassroots innovations all over the country, categorized as heirloom recipes or heritage food, ethnobotanicals, artisanal or endangered crafts.
Other DOST documented GIs are innovations addressing health concerns and those that are into “circular economy” which the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) explains as a development model that aims to “to minimize waste and promote a sustainable use of natural resources, through smarter product design, longer use, recycling, as well as to regenerate nature”.
Dr. Solidum revealed that of the 606 DOST documented, 64 were provided with science and technology interventions from packaging and labelling, research and development (R & D) support, and capacity-building.
On the other hand, 61 of the innovators were provided with the necessary tools and equipment to enhance their creativity, productivity, and product quality “thereby opening entrepreneurial opportunities for them and their communities”.
The GICE Expo 2024 brought to Davao City showcased grassroots innovations from from Baguio City, from the indigenous community of Oriental Mindoro, from Bukidnon, from Panabo City, Davao de Oro, from Sultan Kudarat, from peripheral communities of the National Capital Region (NCR), from Northern Samar, Leyte, and other parts of the country.
DOST Regional Director Dr. Anthony Sales said that bringing the GICE 2024 in Davao Region sends the message that “our innovations and our S and T interventions should be inclusive.”
“Kasama pati yong mga nasa grassroots communities kasi sila ang nangangailangan talaga ng interventions para magamit ang ST sa kanilang mga negosyo, sa kanilang livelihood. (Those in the grassroots communities should be included because they are the ones needing interventions to use the S & T for their businesses and their livelihood),” he told PIA.
Aside from opening the GICE 2024 Expo, Dr. Solidum also received the Grassroots Innovations in the Philippines Compendium and the Grassroots Innovations Workbook that documents the resilience and creativity of Filipino communities.
“Our hope is that these knowledge products will spark further innovations, helping Filipino grassroots innovators build resilient circular economies the a will uplift communities and inspire others across the country,” said Elmerei Cuevas, social analysts of UNDP Philippines. (JMDA, PIA XI)
