DOST Sec: Mountain engineering tourism can boost tourism

Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- For a mountainous terrain as the host province here in during observance of regional science and technology week (RSTW), mountain engineering can spur economic development.

Dept. of Science and Technology Sec. Fortunato de la Pena in his speech during said RSTW said mountain engineering can be geared towards a bigger objective -- sustainable tourism.

The RSTW celebration held Nov. 19-22, highlighted an exhibit showcasing DOST products of DOST beneficiaries, fora on topics on science and technology, a science workshop for elementary and high school students and a disaster resilience summit for kids.

In his message, de la Pena said the RSTW “seeks to draw attention to scientific knowledge and technological applications impacting on the lives of Filipinos through the kind of development that can bring about positive, meaningful, and sustainable change.”  

De la Pena in a separate press conference said mountain engineering can be applied within the context of protecting biodiversity.

Mountain Province like the rest of the Cordillera regional provinces is characterized by a landlocked terrain with most of the land area being forested and a few locations such as Tabuk, Kalinga and Paracelis Moutnain Province composed of vast plains. The main form of livelihood is farming and some areas on tourism.

A favorite destination for eco-tourism, the Cordillera is endowed with attractive sites for trekking, sightseeing and spelunking aside from tourists getting a feel of the cultural richness of the people.   

Mountain engineering as a masteral course was first offered in 2002-2003 by a consortium of three universities- Benguet State University (BSU), Saint Louis University (SLU) and the University of the Cordilleras (UC)  then called Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF).

The 45-unit MSMtE program “aims to train and develop a pool of highly trained and globally competitive engineers to help boost the mountain engineering field, ensure the preservation of the environment and improve the people’s environmental consciousness.”
The program addresses the needs of the mountain ranges, water and watershed management, soil mechanics and infrastructure.

Here at Mountain Province State Polytechnique College (MPSPC) responded to the call by the National Research Council of the Philippines of the DOST for the establishment of a center for indigenous/mountain engineering in the region.

The invitation called on MPSPC to take part in the government’s efforts to promote inclusiveness and development for all, through research by sharing ‘your’ expertise and mentoring future researchers, scientists, and engineers in the country.