The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) introduced 60 technological innovations related to disaster risk reduction and management in the three-day “Handa Pilipinas” Visayas leg here.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said these local technologies exhibited from Nov. 8 to 10 at Summit Hotel here, funded by DOST, seek to boost disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.
“Although Filipinos are often branded as victims, with science and technology innovation and collaboration, we can be victors over disaster and not victims,” Solidum said in a press briefing Thursday.
Among the technologies showcased are agrometeorological station, flood early warning system, flood sense, bamboo shelter, bamboo octagonal jointing system, brown rice bar, complementary food products, enhanced nutribun, food processing equipment, vacuum fryer, automatic trash rake, water hyacinth harvester, collapsible toilet bowl, emergency food reserve, ready-to-eat chicken egg, upgraded emergency disinfection system, rainwater collection system and satellite rainfall extremes.
Other technologies are augmenter-reality terrain-flood simulator, community dengue early warning system, damage assessment software, disaster resources mapping, learning laboratory, self-contained, disinfecting cubicle, oil spill recovery technologies, seismic activity monitoring system, earthquake simulator, life-saving devices, soil monitoring after severe flooding and radiation monitoring stations.
Handa Pilipinas 2023 Visayas Leg, the third of three legs, is in time for the 10th year commemoration of the Super Typhoon Yolanda. It also coincides with the celebration of the 2023 Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week in Eastern Visayas.
The first leg was held on July 27-29 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, while the second leg, the Mindanao Leg, was on Oct. 4 to 6 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
With the theme, “Typhoon Yolanda Remembered: Understanding Risks and Preventing Future Disasters”, the Handa Pilipinas Visayas leg features the lessons of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
“The Super Typhoon Yolanda reminded us of lessons and experiences that science, technology, and innovations work with right communication and action. Collaboration is the heart and soul of this event,” Solidum added.
The event opened by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday also recognizes the institutions that helped in the speedy recovery of Eastern Visayas through science, technology and innovation interventions. It will also capacitate the Visayas stakeholders in terms of disaster risk reduction and management. (PNA)
