DOST awards Siquijor mayor, state college

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, July 20 (PIA) -- Siquijor municipal Mayor Richard Quezon and Siquijor State College (SSC) President Baldomero Martinez and the SSC itself received on Friday the Award of Recognition from the Department of Science and Technology-7. 

The DOST-7 Award of Recognition, according to DOST Provincial Director Mario de la Pena, is a special honor conferred on individuals or organizations as a mark of distinction for their contributions to the advancement of science, technology, and innovation as a catalyst toward socio-economic development. 

The local government unit (LGU) of Siquijor was instrumental in donating approximately 287 sq m of government lot to the DOST Siquijor provincial office where the DOST provincial office now stands. 

The LGU Siquijor also supported and offered a space to house the public library. 

Likewise, Martinez has been very supportive in all DOST plans, programs and activities implemented at the SSC. 

During his stint as president, DOST-Academe linkage has been enhanced, which allows Research and Development undertakings to kick off. 

He has been very receptive in all DOST technological inputs, thus different science and technology (S&T) projects had been successfully implemented in the school. 

SSC, the only state college in the province, is also instrumental in the promotion of S&T and in the implementation of different DOST projects in the school and in the province of Siquijor. 

The SSC is the regular testing center for the two DOST scholarship programs: Philippine Science High School National Competitive Examination and the DOST-SEI Scholarship Program. 

The SSC also benefited from the DOST assistance like DOST grant-in-aids, establishment of computer training center, livelihood training center, local area networking, and the DOST Academe Technology-Based Enterprise Development (Datbed) for the students. 

The awarding was done during the Kapihan forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the DOST to highlight the annual celebration of the National Science and Technology Week, commemorated in the month of July. 

The forum banners the theme: Science Technology and Innovation: Working Together for Growth and Development. (RMN/RAC-PIA7, Siquijor)