DOST taps science, green energy to strengthen food security, resilience in Zamboanga Peninsula

Science and technology are being brought closer to farmers, small businesses, local governments, and communities in the Zamboanga Peninsula as the government expands programs aimed at strengthening food security, cleaner energy, and disaster preparedness.

During the opening of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Dipolog City on Aug. 12, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said partnerships among government, academe, industry, and communities are helping translate innovation into practical solutions to regional challenges.

“The Zamboanga Peninsula has already shown us what is possible when government, academe, industry, and local communities unite around STI,” Solidum said.

For farmers and fisherfolk, DOST said it is supporting technologies designed to reduce post-harvest losses and improve productivity in rice processing and aquaculture.

The department has also provided food innovation centers for product development, solar dryers, and food safety technologies aimed at helping local producers improve the quality and value of their products.

“Farmers are yielding more, fisherfolk are increasing their returns, entrepreneurs are expanding into high-value goods, and consumers are accessing safer food,” Solidum said.

DOST is also expanding the use of cleaner technologies in transportation and businesses across the region.

Dipolog City currently has a converted electric tricycle or C-Trike, while Dapitan City is expected to receive additional units following the turnover of six e-trikes and two CharM electric vehicle charging stations in 2025.

The department is also discussing with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) the establishment of a C-Trike Kit Developer and Training Center to build local technical skills for electric mobility.

DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang said the initiative could support the deployment of an e-tranvia in Dipolog and additional e-trikes in Dapitan.

“We are preparing for its establishment to strengthen science and technology services, as well as the deployment of e-tranvia in Dipolog and e-trike in Dapitan, creating opportunities for cleaner and more sustainable mobility,” Mabborang said.

Beyond transportation, DOST has funded solar-powered systems for micro, small, and medium enterprises to help reduce operating costs and improve efficiency. Among the beneficiaries is Dipolog Livelihood Distribution Inc., a local bottled sardines manufacturer.

Science-backed technologies are likewise playing a growing role in disaster preparedness in the region.

DOST said 44 local government units in the Zamboanga Peninsula have adopted disaster risk reduction technologies developed by the department, while 43 local resolutions have institutionalized science-based approaches to reducing disaster risks.

The region is also the first in the Philippines to complete all modules of the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System or REDAS, a DOST-developed platform used for hazard monitoring, simulation, database development, and impact assessment for earthquakes, floods, severe winds, tsunamis, and lahars.

“True resilience is not built after a disaster strikes; it is established long before. Every investment made in science today prevents catastrophic loss tomorrow,” Solidum said.

DOST is also expanding innovation hubs and community programs across the peninsula, including the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program in Zamboanga, Isabela, and Sulu, as well as innovation hubs in Zamboanga del Norte, Sulu, Basilan, and Zamboanga City.

The region has so far recorded 57 projects under the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program, 40 Grants-in-Aid projects, and 31 initiatives under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology Program.

According to DOST, these interventions represent about P245 million in science and technology investments, generating more than 4,200 jobs and contributing to P1.12 billion in cumulative gross sales.

“These are not just statistical milestones; they are concrete evidence that science works, innovation creates opportunity, and local partnerships transform communities,” Solidum said.

DOST-Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Director Rosemarie S. Salazar, meanwhile, called on stakeholders to continue combining Filipino resourcefulness with science and technology to advance inclusive development.

“Let us make sure that our diskarte is strengthened by science, our creativity is empowered by technology, our ideas are transformed into innovations, and our partnerships give us strength to grow further,” Salazar said.