DOST 6 Regional Director Rowen R. Gelonga (3rd from left), PCIEETRD Executive Director Enrico C. Paringit (c) and ISAT U President Raul F. Muyong, signifying unity for common goal, hold hands after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the research equipment and facilities portal for Program on Data Science for Good Governance. Witnessing the signing of the MOU are (l-R) Engr. Emelyn P. Flores, DOST 6 ARD for Technical Operation; Dr. Rowena Christina l. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development; Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut, ISAT U Vice President for Research and Extension and Engr. Naci John C. Trance, IPMO Director.
Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U), Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEETRD) and the Western Visayas Consortium for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (WVCIEETRD) forged an agreement to maintain and develop research equipment and facilities in the area of data science and smart cities.
A smart city harnesses the use of science and technology, and innovation to deliver good governance and services to the public.
Under the agreement, ISAT U can provide the necessary expertise and facilities needed for the collaboration to support the PCIEETRD science and technology sectoral plans and programs on its delineated sector which includes Data Science and Smart Cities.
DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico C. Paringit explained the concept of the portal for Program on Data Science and Good Governance . “They (ISAT U) will have to train a pool of students and people working at the local governments in order to apply data science techniques.” The program is also in line with ISAT U’s thrust in research and development, and computer studies.
DOST Region VI Director Rowen R. Gelonga added that the purpose of the collaboration between DOST and ISAT U is to create a pool of experts on data science or data analytics. Gelonga also passes on the challenge to ISAT U to probably open degree programs or even post-graduate programs related to data science, which is a multi-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge.
He explicitly implied the importance of collaboration in the growth of smart cities like Iloilo City. Gelonga also divulge “Innovate Iloilo” which is a master plan to position Iloilo as an innovation hub by 2030. “This is a broad-based multi-stakeholders effort involving the local government units, the business sector, the government, the academe and the research institutions and other stakeholders’ collaboration of the local government units and other stakeholders, “he said.
The role of scientists and researchers who “present their technologies and research outputs that can potentially solve some of the problems as a growing community or as we continue to grow and prosper is important,” Engr. Gelonga added.
The MOU was signed by Engr. Gelonga, Dir. Paringit and ISAT U President Raul F. Muyong during the ninth anniversary of DOST-PCIEERD held for the first time in Iloilo City on June 13, 2019.
