News

Finding science-based solutions to tourism needs

Monday, August 05, 2019 12:39 AM    Views : 537by:Jonathan L. Mayuga

/news/images/science02-080419.jpg

Tourism Assistant Secretary Myrna Paz V. Abubakar, Science Undersecretary for Regional Operations Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano and Zes Martinez, co-CEO of FAME, shows the firm’s transponder. FAME is one of the exhibitors during the “Luwas Pilipinas, Ligtas Pilipinas” science and technology forum of DOST-PCIEE RD in Butuan City.

Believe it or not, there’s a strong link between the tourism and science and technology sectors because for every tourism industry’s need, there is a science-based or technology-driven solutions waiting to be tapped.

Various Department of Science and Technology (DOST) projects are in fact aimed at boosting the country’s tourism industry, said Science Undersecretary for Regional Operations Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano at the Caraga Science and Tourism Industry Forum in Butuan City last week.

She said the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development  (PCIEERD) is helping shape the tourism sector through the various research and development projects it is funding with its partners from other government agencies, research institutions, academe and private companies.

“We look now at the tourism industry at a broader perspective and see how DOST can put more fun, as the DOT’s [Department of Tourism] tagline says, in the Philippines through science, technology and innovation,” she said. The event gathered tourism industry players in the region, including hotel and resort owners.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Myrna Paz V. Abubakar, who represented Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, gave an overview of the country’s tourism industry and its needs from science and technology (S&T) developers.

Abubakar said the event was “very timely” considering that the DOT is now working to position the Philippines as “a must-experience destination.”

“We acknowledge the importance of S&T in improving the country’s competitiveness also in boosting inclusive and sustainable growth,” she said.

Robust tourism

According to Abubakar, the country’s tourism industry is on an upward trajectory.

“Our overall tourism performance is robust and on the uptrend. Last year, our foreign visitor arrivals  were at an  all-time high at 7.1 million, 8.27  percent  higher than 2017’s inbound figures  of  6.62 million,” she said.

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority data, she said the tourism sector contributed 12.7 percent  to the country’s GDP  in 2018,  or 0.5  percent  higher than  its  12.2-percent  share  in 2017.

Approximately 5.4 million  jobs  were generated in 2018,  contributing 13 percent of the  total employment in the country, up by 1.8 percent than  the  5.3 million jobs generated in 2017.

Sustainable tourism

According to Abubakar, while it is hoped that tourism will be a major economic activity in the regions, the DOT is proceeding with “utmost caution to avoid the ill effects of unplanned and hasty development,” citing the case of Boracay.

“We should look at the Boracay rehabilitation experience as a case study for sustainable tourism,” she said.  According to Abubakar, the world is looking at the government’s efforts in rehabilitating the island paradise.

Needs from science

Abubakar highlighted the need for the development of digital platforms for the tourism industry.

During last year’s World Tourism Day, the World Bank had a presentation about the Digital Platforms and the Future of Tourism.  I would like to share part of their statement which is very apt for this activity.  It goes: “When properly planned and managed, sustainable tourism can contribute to improved livelihoods, inclusion, cultural heritage, and natural resource protection and promote international understanding.  And digitalization is one way to hasten this development,” she said.

S&T can boost sustainable tourism by mitigating the aviation industry’s impact on climate change.

“Since 98 percent of our visitors enter our country by air, we are looking at science to mitigate the aviation industry’s impact on climate change.  Again, with the world’s concern about sustainability, tourists may, in the future, weigh their options on how to travel or where to with the least carbon footprint,” she said.

According to Abubakar, while the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program serves to promote seamless travel, innovation is needed to develop fuel-efficient transport systems for air, land and sea mobility.

The facilitation of entry through visa reforms, biometrics, machine-readable passports, modern scanners and other electronic systems can contribute to the first impression at the ports of entry, she pointed out.

Science and technology solutions

Dubbed “Luwas Pilipinas, Ligtas Pilipinas,” the two-day event co-organized by PCIEERD and the DOST Caraga region showcased the various tourism-related research and development (R&D) projects funded, wholly or in part, by the DOST-PCIEERD.

Most R&D projects were already completed, tested and ready for transfer, said PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico C. Paringit.

Manzano showcased the different technologies developed by Filipino researchers, focusing on accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation and travel services.

The DOST, she said, looks at the tourism industry as a partner in serving the people and transforming lives through its various projects and programs, highlighting the industry’s phenomenal growth over the years.

“The tourism industry is flourishing in the country and we are keen on supporting this industry through technologies, programs and services that we can offer,” she said.

Agro ecotourism

The DOST recently poured in P6.6 million to the Mount Kitanglad Agro Ecotourism to develop a science-based tourism farm site in Northern Mindanao.

“Through the funding, the 22-hectare farm will enhance its capability to produce chemical-free high-value crop vegetables which are its niche offer.  This will be done through a package of technologies using chemical-free cabbage and sweet pepper, lettuce, mints, and other high-value vegetables,” Manzano said.

Structural safety

The DOST-PCIEERD and its partner also developed the Universal Structural Health Evaluation and Recording (Usher) System.

A 24/7 economical and hassle-free system, Usher allows stakeholders, such as building managers, to comply with the National Structural Code of the Philippines and the implementing rules and regulations of the revised National Building Code of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The technology uses the concept of structural health monitoring, which provides a diagnosis of the condition of various structures.

Smart energy

The science agency also worked in partnership with WattSmart Philippines, an award-winning energy management company that introduced an innovative and affordable way of saving electric power consumption to around 20 participants from food-, metal-, sugar- and coconut-processing companies in various provinces.

The Smart Energy Program, designed to support the manufacturing sector to minimize energy wastage through an energy audit, on-site installation of energy data centers to facilitate analysis of energy consumption and professional energy consultation, provides long-term financial benefits.

The technology helps control electrical energy consumption, save overhead costs and boost business competitiveness.

Several DOST-PCIEERD projects, meanwhile, are linked to disaster-risk reduction and management.

Geo-Safer

The Geo-Informatics for the Systematic Assessment of Flood Effects and Risks for a Resilient Mindanao (Geo-Safer) is a research program conducted by the Phil-LiDAR 1 Mindanao Cluster higher educational institutions, consisting of Ateneo de Zamboanga, Caraga State University, Central Mindanao University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology and the University of the Philippines-Mindanao.

Geo-Safer produced highly detailed flood hazard maps using geo-informatics-based technologies—such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing, Global Navigation Satellite System, Geographic Information System, and Numerical Simulations—of flood-prone river basins based on the demands by local government units across 18 provinces in various parts of Mindanao, specifically in Zamboanga City-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-tawi area, Agusan, and Northern, Western and Southeastern Mindanao.

Integrated water management

The integrated and comprehensive water assessment and management study evaluates the quality and quantity, assess and map water resources and location of groundwater aquifer through a smart wastewater and sewerage management in small ecotourist island.

The project deploys a monitoring system that measures water quantity and quality, including hydrometeorological parameters, wastewater, and sewerage treatment plants and will recommend policies for the management of groundwater extraction and surface water utilization.

Food and beverage safety

Food safety modules are targeted to be the standard training materials to be used in 17 DOST regional offices in the country.

The DOST Unified Food Safety Modules consist of training presentations, teacher’s manual, learner’s manual, and examination booklet on the three components of food safety, including food safety hazards, basic food hygiene and good manufacturing practices.

Its Detect Immediately by Probe System is designed for rapid and efficient detection of salmonella in food and feed samples. It is an easy-to-use method and requires nonsophisticated laboratory equipment.  Results of testing can be obtained within 24 hours.

Recreation and entertainment

The DOST-PCIEERD partnered in March last year with Toon City Academy to capacitate and hone more Filipino animators to promote the creative industries.   The pilot project was designed to strengthen animation since it is now a known emerging market in the business-process outsourcing sector.

The project, dubbed “Industry-defined 2D Basic Animation Course” is a 12-week intensive basic animation workshop and actual work production through an internship program.

So far, the DOST-PCIEERD and Toon City Academy has trained 120 animators from Pangasinan and Iloilo.

Transportation

The Rapid Charging E-Vehicle Station, a project by the University of the Philippines-Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, is similar to a regular refueling station where the user uses a demo-compliant connector to recharge the e-trike in less than 30 minutes.

On the other hand, the Intelligent Electric Transportation Network Program is envisioned to develop a smart network of energy-aware electric vehicles and charging stations through cooperation between the electric vehicles and infrastructure.

Operations, such as scheduling of vehicles, the route to take, when and where to charge, and charging time will all be coordinated so that the overall energy demand of the system will be optimized.

Meanwhile, Transeek, a hailing transport application, provides ease for tourists who would want to get a tricycle in Butuan City. It is now available on Google Play which can be downloaded in smartphones.

Easybus PH, another DOST-PCIEERD start-up, has launched a transportation service that offers real-time easy- and hassle-free bus ticket booking experience for passengers.

Through the web site, commuters can see the date, time of departure, destination, available and reserve seats, the bus line and the bus type.  Easybus PH is deployed in buses going to Baguio and Bicol.

The official also highlighted its partnership with  Future of Aviation and Maritime Enterprise, an award-winning DOST-PCIEERD start-up which developed transponders that can be used by small maritime vessels.

Through a transponder, data is sent from the device on the vessel to a gateway and is received in a receiving station on land, allowing real-time monitoring of the vessel’s activity during expeditions.

According to Manzano, the DOST will continue to work with the tourism industry to find science-based solutions to tourism needs.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/08/04/finding-science-based-solutions-to-tourism-needs/

S & T Trivia

" The world's rice research leader, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is located in Los Baños, Laguna Philippines. The leading rice exporter is Thailand, followed by the USA. The Philippines' foremost rice breeder, Dr. Rodolfo Aquino, was one of the scientists who developed IR8, the 1966 strain of the rice variety that launched Asia's "Green Revolution." In 1970, Dr. Ricardo Lantican of Los Baños led a corn research that saved America's corn industry from the Southern leaf blight. "

Online Resources
© copyright 2012 www.science.ph. All rights reserved.

Login