DOST-10 has made remarkable strides in 2024 by transforming communities, keeping the innovation ecosystem vibrant, and promoting environmental sustainability across Northern Mindanao. Through targeted projects and collaborative efforts, the agency empowered communities, supported MSMEs, and advanced sustainable development practices.
Transforming Communities into Smart and Sustainable
In 2024, DOST-10 significantly advanced its Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SCCP), transforming several communities through innovation-driven governance. Since the program was launched last year, there are ten (10) smart community projects implemented across the region.
Key initiatives include the deployment of real-time emergency reporting mobile app with GIS-based Emergency Dispatch System and 247 AI-powered CCTVs in Iligan City through the smart city project entitled “ILIG-ON-NOVATION: Creating Innovation Districts for a Liveable City through Township Innovation Management Application”.
Through the mobile app, Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (ICDRRMO) receives real-time emergency reporting from the community allowing users to easily contact, alert local command centers of life-threatening incidents.
While responders from CDRRMO, PNP, BFP, Hospitals, etc. are notified immediately the moment emergencies are reported through the mobile app, resulting in prompt dispatch and response. Since the app was launched on February 26, there were 633 users in Iligan City.
Oroquieta City is a smart city partner in Misamis Occidental. The city adopted a smarter method of real property tax mapping through MapX, an acronym for Manage Your Assets, Properties and Map it for Visualization.
MapX is a web platform that provides real property mapping and assessment solutions that uses advanced geoinformatics technologies. Use of the system will enable the local government unit of Oroquieta City, through its City Assessor’s Office, to conveniently analyze and create maps of real property units.
In turn, tax mapping processes in the City Assessor’s Office will become more accurate resulting in the increase in real property tax collection that will then boost the city’s revenue. From its pilot implementation with 17,495 real property units (RPUs), LGU Oroquieta City expanded it to cover a total of 35,193 RPUs as the operations of the City Assessor’s Office became more efficient and accurate.
Smart city initiatives were also launched in the municipalities of Mambajao and Magsaysay, as well as in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay. These initiatives enhanced various public services, including real-time hazard monitoring, public safety management, city data center operations, and the digital transformation of critical government processes. Other innovative advancements included smart data management Solutions for agriculture and road incidents, as well as the implementation of a digital referral system to improve healthcare delivery in the hospitals.
Boosting MSME Growth through Technological Advancement
DOST-10 sustains its support to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through its flagship programs such as Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, Consultancy and Training, and Laboratory Services. In 2024, additional Forty-two (42) MSMEs benefited from technology upgrades, improving their productivity, product quality, and market reach.
The standout success stories include Bestfriend Goodies, whose adopted DOST’s Ready-to-Eat Food Pack products were integrated into national disaster response kits and earned multiple prestigious awards, including the 2024 Katha Awards for Food during the International Food Exhibition at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The firm has become a prominent food processing company in the region employing 60 staff and posted an increase of gross sales of 148% after DOST intervention. Mama Jita’s Food Products, a producer of beverages in Catarman, Camiguin, also flourished after receiving financial assistance for technology upgrading and product development support, leading to increased revenue and product expansion.
Consultancy and Training Services gained momentum, with thirteen (13) training sessions on food safety, five MPEX consultations, and multiple FDA certifications granted to local businesses. The DOST-10’s Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories was able to cater the testing needs of over 1,400 MSMEs in the region.
Promoting a Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future
DOST-10’s efforts in advocating for a circular economy reached a massive campaign in achieving the Guinness World Record for “Most People Planting Bamboo Simultaneously” across the country with 2,305 planters on October 18, 2024.
This event raises awareness of the potential of the bamboo for climate resilience, sustainability, and economic development. In support of this advocacy, DOST-10 funded three (3) projects related on bamboo production and processing; namely: Upgrading of the Process and Production of Bamboo Furniture of Saya-Saya Manhalgon Tribal Clan Association in Upper Pulangi, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon ; Utilization of DOST-FPRDI’s Engineered Bamboo Technology for the establishment of the Bamboo Innovation Hub in Baungon, Bukidnon – D1; and Innovative Bamboo Nursery in Libertad, Misamis Oriental: Harnessing Clonal Propagation Technology for Ecological Sustainability.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. joins the bamboo planting activity at Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City on October 18, 2024. The activity officially earned a Guinness World Record for the most participants simultaneously planting bamboo, with 2,305 planters taking part in 19 locations across mainland Mindanao and Visayas.
The Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program of the agency underscores projects that can contribute to sustainability such as waste management and renewable material utilization in Maramag, Bukidnon through the provision of plastic shredder and densifier and in Barangay Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro city through the provision of biowaste shredder. Several CEST projects enabled sustainable livelihoods by providing raw material processing and eco-friendly production technologies to marginalized communities.
In agriculture, innovations such as solar-powered drying systems and modern fiber extraction technologies improved post-harvest processing and reduced waste. Abaca fiber and citronella oil production facilities in Clarin, Manticao, Oroquieta, and Barangay Tignapoloan in Cagayan de Oro City were upgraded, increasing productivity while preserving environmental integrity.
Additionally, environmental education and capacity-building activities strengthened the region’s commitment to sustainability. Through various workshops, conferences, and policy dialogues, DOST-10 inspired stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices, ensuring that environmental responsibility remains at the forefront of regional development efforts.
Leading the Innovation Ecosystem in the Region
DOST-10 actively performed its mandate in providing leadership and coordination to Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) initiatives in Northern Mindanao primarily through Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee (RRDIC-X) and the research consortia.
The operationalization of the four RRDIC-X subcommittees allowed in-depth, sector-specific coordination on STI human resource management, entrepreneurship, resource mobilization, and knowledge infrastructure. The committee saw an increase of participation from the STI stakeholders with the addition of seven (7) new member institutions.
Key accomplishments of the committee include the endorsement of seven (7) proposals for funding under the DOST’s Science for Change Program, which aim to develop and strengthen further the research capabilities of the academe, research and development institutions (RDIs), and other government line agencies, and the facilitation of Innovation Grant Proposal Writeshop which resulted to the submission of fifty-one (51) proposals from Region-10, the highest number of submissions in the country for the NEDA’s Innovation Grant Fund.
In 2024, the Northern Mindanao Consortium on Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (NORMINCIEERD) and the Northern Mindanao Consortium on Health Research and Development (NORMINCOHRD) were able to evaluate fifty-four (54) multi-million collaborative research projects of which twenty-four (24) are funded by various DOST funding agencies.
The DOST-10 also remains active in extending support to the Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) in USTP, MSU-IIT, CMU, BUKSU and the endorsement of a pioneering startup ordinance for Cagayan de Oro City. Moreover, the agency successfully facilitated the updating of the Research and Development Agenda of four (4) higher educational institutions.
The very successful staging of the National Science and Technology Week in Cagayan de Oro City hosted by DOST-10 in November 27-December 1 fortified the region as a major driver of STI in the country.
2025 Outlook
The coming year holds the promise of greater impact and further innovation. Building on the successes of 2024, DOST-10 plans to expand its Smart Community initiatives, focusing on more LGUs and integrating Industry 4.0 technologies for smart governance and better disaster preparedness and public safety.
With the operationalization of R&D subcommittees, DOST-10 will continue to drive R&D agenda-setting workshops and increase R&D proposal submissions. This will ensure alignment with industry needs and government priorities, paving the way for the development of demand-driven solutions.
Efforts to promote climate resiliency will be amplified, particularly through the use of bamboo as a key material in sustainable practices. Building on the momentum of the bamboo planting world record, DOST-10 aims to strengthen its advocacy for bamboo’s role in the circular economy.
The completion of the Regional Metrology Laboratory and Provincial Science and Technology Office of Misamis Oriental in 2025 is set to significantly enhance DOST-10’s capacity to address the calibration and testing requirements of various industries across Northern Mindanao. This state-of-the-art facility will provide faster, more accurate services, enabling local businesses to meet stringent quality standards and improve product competitiveness. With expanded capabilities, the laboratory is expected to support more MSMEs, strengthen industrial productivity, and drive economic growth in the region.
As DOST-10 stands at the summit of its 2024 achievements, it is clear that the climb will continue. The agency’s focus for 2025 will be on creating smarter communities, fostering inclusive development, and promoting sustainability for future generations. With the collective dedication of its staff, stakeholders, and partners, DOST-10 is poised to reach new heights and transform even more lives through the power of science, technology, and innovation.
