Gab held on pandemic, crisis in Ilocos Region

By Gabriel L. Cardinoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Sec. Renato Solidum Jr. said Wednesday, Nov. 9, that it was science that played a key role in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented socioeconomic crisis in the past two years.
    "We may still be reeling from the effects of the pandemic now but the world is slowly recovering. Thanks to science, which played a key role in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented socioeconomic crisis," said Solidum in a video message at the opening of the three-day Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) in Ilocos Region here.
    He said that science provided vaccines, equipment and innovative solutions to address the crisis.
    "The importance of science and technology cannot be understated. This is why the DoST has been at the forefront of the country's battle against the pandemic since it began," Solidum said.

    Gov. Ramon Guico 3rd, who was represented by former board member Von Mark Mendoza, thanked the DoST for holding the RSTW celebration in this capital town.

    "All the challenges that we are facing as a country and people, science always has the answer," said Mendoza.

    He also said that although Pangasinan is the biggest province in Region 1, it has yet to fully harness science and technology.

    DoST Region 1 Director Armando Ganal said that Ilocos is just one of the 16 regions in the country celebrating RSTW but on different dates. The celebrations, he said, will culminate in a national celebration on November 23 to 27 at the World Trade Center.

    "Here in the region, it will be three days, no entrance fee. We have a technology exhibit and we have a technology bazaar in two separate buildings," Ganal said.

    The reason for this, he said, was to enable them to attract more people and bring back the way they promoted science and technology advocacies before the pandemic.

    "We also have a technology forum, where we will have discussions about different technologies. We also have a gathering of business establishment owners and a stakeholders' forum," Ganal said.

    Aside from the RSTW, Ganal said the DoST provincial offices had been also conducting science technology caravans to bring its programs, projects and services to the countryside