TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) — Kalinga has officially launched its Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) plan for the 2024–2028 period, aimed at making the province an inclusive, smart, and sustainable community.
The plan, formulated through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s Innovation, Science, and Technology for Accelerating Regional Transformation (iSTART) program, outlines strategies to address key issues in social, economic, environmental, institutional, and infrastructure development in the province. It aims to drive socio-economic development through science, technology, and innovation.
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Maborang, and DOST-Cordillera Regional Director Nancy A. Bantog led the unveiling on February 19, 2024, at the Tabuk City Hall. It was attended by local officials and stakeholders.
Solidum lauded the province for taking a significant step towards becoming a smart and sustainable community.
“Everything starts with planning, but planning that is good and based on updated data and information. That is why it is important for us to work with all of you at the provincial, municipal, and city levels so that our interventions at your level will be according to the plan, which we agree will truly cause development and transformation in your area,” Solidum said.
He said the plan will serve as a roadmap to leverage both national and local expertise to strengthen and sustain inclusive growth.
“The Science, Technology, and Innovation plan we have just unveiled will serve as a roadmap to harness not only national expertise but, more importantly, local expertise within your neighboring regions, and we hope that this will strengthen and sustain our drive for inclusive growth,” the Secretary said.
Governor James S. Edduba thanked the DOST, partner agencies, and planners for spearheading the province’s first-ever STI Plan and affirmed his full support for its realization.
To help address issues in the province regarding agriculture, Maborang said they will deploy the Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines (SARAi) Project to address climate change challenges and enhance farm productivity.
On supporting MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), Maborang cited the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP 4.0), an initiative aimed at capacitating small-scale entrepreneurs by providing innovation system support, including equipment, technology, and business solutions.
He also highlighted the ongoing collaboration with Balik Scientists aimed at conducting studies to address urban challenges.
“We said that we will deploy experts to the city of Tabuk and the province of Kalinga so that we will be able to also come up with studies that will eventually, in anticipation of later traffic problems in your province and the city, come up with modern solutions that will also include the use of modern technology,” he said.
The DOST and local officials also signed a pledge of commitment to harness science, technology, and innovation for the province to become smart and sustainable. (JDP/RGA-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
