The first-ever “science for change” facility in the country will soon rise in Legazpi City, with its P115-million budget included in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda said the “Bicol Science For Change” (S4C) facility will be a regional research and development (R&D) center that will support science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystems and foresight thinking in the region.
According to the veteran legislator, there is no existing regional center that is dedicated to STI for the use of Bicolanos.
“Talent retention and knowledge exchange remain a challenge in Bicol Region,” the seasoned lawmaker said, adding that this motivated him to push the putting up of the facility.
“The S4C will serve as a catalyst in the harmonization of the DOST R&D agenda to the Bicol regional development plan.”
He said the S4C will serve as a catalyst in the harmonization of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) R&D agenda to the Bicol regional development plan, and the adoption of locally generated technologies, inventions, and innovations.
“We need to increase research innovation and productivity, adopt technologies, develop the culture of STI, and strengthen partnership and innovation linkages,” Salceda said.
Salceda, who is a known economist, stressed the need to continually promote local health research projects, and provide more opportunities to scientists/researchers.
He lamented that at present, the STI ecosystem and regional research, development, and innovation are fragmented, resulting in overlapping R&D coverage.
“The absence of a showroom to exhibit all R&D/STI initiatives in Bicol will be responded to by this science for change facility.”
“The absence of a showroom to exhibit all R&D/STI initiatives in Bicol will be responded to by this science for change facility,” Salceda said.
Once fully functional, the center/facility is anticipated to benefit medium, small, and micro-enterprises (MSMEs), researchers, higher educational institutions, students, and other public and private stakeholders, he added.
