BACOLOD CITY (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is keen on pursuing countryside development through facilities such as the Metals and Engineering Innovation Center (MEIC).
Intended to promote innovation, research, and skills development, the MEIC is at the forefront of boosting the creative and technological capabilities of rural communities.
The DOST – Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas (TUPV), and other stakeholders inaugurated the first MEIC in Negros Occidental located at TUPV in Talisay City.
In his message during the facility’s inauguration, Secretary Renato Solidum said the DOST seeks to establish a network of facilities that enables regional areas to leverage on their potential and contribute to the nation’s thriving industrial landscape.
He added that the MEIC not only enhances the research and development (R&D) capabilities of TUPV and other academic institutions in the region, but also fosters collaboration and partnership among local researchers, students, and industry partners to create innovations that open opportunities for regional economic growth.
“I hope we can maximize the use of MEIC. Alam niyo, ‘pag narining na na-maximize ang use [ng MEIC] sa isang lugar [at] maraming trabaho ang nagawa rito, ang ibang rehiyon sa Pilipinas ay magkakaroon rin ng ganoong enthusiasm,” Solidum said.
(I hope we can maximize the use of MEIC. If the use of MEIC in one area is maximized and many jobs are created, other regions in the Philippines will have similar enthusiasm.)
Meanwhile, DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) local industry partner Ramon D. Uy stressed that with the technologies present at the MEIC, Filipinos no longer must import mechanical parts for their equipment, since prototyping of their specific needs, as well as production, can now be done locally.
“If you are competing with the imported [parts], mas mataas ang presyo nila kasi compared sa atin. Kung i-localize natin, malaki talaga ang kita ng Pilipino kaya kailangang mag-innovate tayo. We should patronize local parts,” Uy said.
For his part, TUPV campus director Dr. Eric A. Malo-oy underscored the role of the MEIC as a venue in transforming ideas into reality and forging partnerships that empower industries and drive economic growth for the Negros Island Region (NIR).
With P10 million worth of advanced equipment, the MEIC offers various services such as equipment and machine design, fabrication and prototyping, skills training, and technical consultancy.
Across the country, the DOST has so far established 10 MEICs and intends to put up at least one per region, promoting inclusivity and allowing regional areas to thrive in the innovation ecosystem. (AGP/BPS/PIA Negros Occidental)
