MANILA – Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday called on researchers to continue exploring bioscience and harness innovation in this field.
“By connecting scientific breakthroughs with community needs, the biosciences can provide relevant, transdisciplinary, and comprehensive solutions that promote community resilience, environmental responsibility, and economic progress,” he said during the National Academy of Science and Technology’s 47th annual scientific meeting.
Solidum cited as an example the country’s drug discovery and development program called Tuklas Lunas, which currently supports 29 institutions in developing locally-derived therapeutic agents and possible commercialization of new drugs and herbal products.
“This (program) taps the nation’s rich biodiversity by investigating indigenous medicinal plants and natural compounds,” he said.
Other bioscience projects spearheaded by the DOST are the development of rapid diagnostic tool for African swine fever, identification of potential antiviral agents from Philippine medicinal plants, and design of vaccine candidates against pathogenic swine viruses.
These projects, Solidum said, are crucial in strengthening the local hog raising industry’s capacity in containing disease outbreaks, mitigating economic losses and ensuring food security.
The DOST chief also said the agency has established innovation hubs for tropical fibers and wood. These hubs are using sustainable processing methods to produce high-quality textiles and eco-friendly products from native and indigenous materials.
Solidum, meanwhile, said some of DOST’s niche centers for research and development (R&D) have been focusing on various indigenous aquatic and terrestrial plant and animal species, and foster innovation and strengthen regional capabilities.
“By empowering local communities through bioscience, we are not only promoting better health and sustainable resource management but also transforming the traditional rural landscape into a hub of enterprise innovation and economic opportunity,” he said. (PNA)