The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) underscored its commitment to inclusive innovation and sustainable development during the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) held in MIMAROPA. With the theme โBuilding Smart and Sustainable Communities,โ this yearโs celebration went beyond showcasing technologiesโit became a rallying point for transforming communities through science-based solutions.
Leading the event was DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., who emphasized the agencyโs vision through the banner commitment OneDOST4UโSolutions, Opportunities for All. โIt is more than a program. It is a promise. A promise that every Filipinoโregardless of location or livelihoodโdeserves access to the tools of science, to the opportunities of innovation, and to the hope that development brings,โ Secretary Solidum said in his keynote address.
DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang echoed this message, highlighting the agencyโs role in empowering communities. โWalang maiiwan sa agos ng agham at inobasyonโkasama ninyo ang DOST. We will be here to nurture and guide your every step of the way,โ he assured participants.
A central highlight of the celebration was the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP), DOSTโs flagship initiative that places people and local contexts at the heart of innovation. Through its four-pronged strategyโtailored S&T solutions, capacity building, smart tech promotion, and policy supportโthe SSCP is helping LGUs and communities across MIMAROPA build resilience, improve services, and drive inclusive growth.
From coastal barangays in Palawan to upland areas in Mindoro, SSCP proves that no community is too remote for progress when solutions are grounded in science and local realities.
The weeklong event featured a dynamic mix of technology exhibits, forums, innovation pitches, and recognition ceremonies that spotlighted community-ready technologies, successful MSMEs, and grassroots innovations designed to address regional challengesโfrom agriculture and education to disaster risk reduction and nutrition.
At the Occidental Mindoro State College, site of the celebration, participants saw firsthand the rollout of region-specific solutions, including agri-aqua innovations and smart systems aligned with the provinceโs development priorities. These initiatives reflect DOSTโs broader drive to ensure that science is not confined to laboratories and research centers but is embedded in the lives of Filipinosโin farms, schools, clinics, barangays, and small businesses.
More than just an exhibition, the 2025 RSTW in MIMAROPA served as a convergence point for partnershipsโlinking communities with resources, innovators with markets, and institutions with shared goals.
As DOST continues to bring its programs closer to the people, the agency reaffirms its mission to build a future where every Filipino can thrive through science, technology, and innovation.(Nelson Santos)
