LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is seeking potential grassroots innovations in Bicol as the Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND) Program begins its second year of implementation.
DOST Bicol Regional Director Rommel Serrano said that the main objective is to actively search for innovators, identify those with potential for growth, and determine how the government can assist them in bringing their ideas to mainstream platforms.
The DOST is particularly encouraging innovations developed by Indigenous peoples and communities, women, out-of-school youth, and other groups in society, such as farmers, fisherfolk, artisans, pastoralists, and workers, according to Sydney Rose Oliquino, the GRIND focal point in Bicol.
These individuals often lack support from the formal sector but demonstrate the ability to innovate and provide solutions to community challenges, ultimately creating positive impacts on society, Oliquino said.
One of the resource speakers, Antonette Alarcon from the GRIND technical working group, defined grassroots innovation as the development of products, services, and processes aimed at addressing specific local challenges and opportunities, which have the potential to provide economic benefits to the community.
Grassroots innovation can include innovations in heirloom recipes and heritage foods, artisanal and endangered crafts, ethnobotanicals, solutions addressing health hazards, and initiatives related to the circular economy, Alarcon said.
Alarcon said the technical evaluation committee for these grassroots innovations consists of at least five stakeholders from various sectors, including government, industry, media, and representatives from academic institutions and civil society groups.
Alvin Mahawan, the director of research and development services at the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, emphasized that committee members must be competent, skilled, and discerning when selecting grassroots innovations that will benefit from interventions from the DOST.
Oliquino said that the GRIND training activity has empowered provincial science and technology officers, local government units (LGUs), and the technical evaluation committee in preparation for the SalikLakbay program, which focuses on mapping potential Geographical Indications (GIs) in communities and is scheduled to take place in March.
She added that they are advocating for this program among LGUs to create ordinances that will support local innovators, thereby increasing community awareness.
The DOST in Bicol had allocated some P1.5 million for the first year of program implementation.
Currently, DOST has identified and documented 606 grassroots innovations across the country, with 59 GIs already funded and deployed.
Additionally, 61 innovators have been provided with the necessary tools and equipment to enhance their creativity, productivity, and product quality, opening up entrepreneurial opportunities for them and their communities.
“Sana po kung may mga alam tayo na mga grassroot innovations o kung ano man na kailangan po ng assistance with regards to Science and Technology interventions, maaari niyo po isangguni sa aming tanggapan. Welcome na welcome po ang mga kapwa Bikolano na pumunta sa amin para po mabigyan ng posibleng assistance para po sa inyo,” Oliquino said.
(We hope that if you know of any grassroots innovations or if you need assistance regarding science and technology interventions, you can refer to our office. We welcome fellow Bicolanos to come to us for possible assistance.) (PIA5)
