DOST, Chinese counterpart agency agree on science, technology agenda » Manila Bulletin News

By Dhel Nazario

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently met with Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology Huang Wei and counterpart institutions in the 15th Protocol of the Joint Commission Meeting Science and Technology (JCMST) at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) headquarters in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

The 15th Protocol Meeting revolved around the areas agreed between DOST and MOST namely: Renewable Energy, Agriculture, specifically on green oil from cashew, rice research, and bamboo post-harvest and processing,Traditional Medicine; Remote Sensing Satellite Data Sharing and Application, and Technology Transfer.

Furthermore, agreement on the launching of a Joint Call for Proposal, as well as DOST’s participation to the Talented Young Scientist Program of MOST, was discussed. Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara led the delegation that met with the Chinese counterparts.

MOST representatives presented updates on the on-going negotiations on the following projects in the pipeline:

– Joint Program on Rice Technology between the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and the Jiangxi Agricultural Academy of Sciences (JxAAS)

– Joint Program on Bamboo Research between the Jiangxi Academy of Forestry (JAF) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of DOST

– Joint Program between ITDI and Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) on “Green Oil and Phytochemicals from Cashew”.

Together with Undersecretary Guevara were Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation Leah J. Buendia; Executive Directors of the DOST Sectoral Planning Councils, namely: Dr. Enrico Paringit of PCIEERD, Dr. Reynaldo Ebora of PCAARRD, and Dr. Jaime Montoya of PCHRD; Directors of the DOST Research and Development Institutes, namely: Dr. Annabelle Briones of ITDI, Dr. Carlo Arcilla of PNRI, Dr. Romulo Aggangan of FPRDI, and Engr. Edgar Garcia of TAPI. They have met with their counterparts from MOST, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan S&T Department, and China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application.

The 15th Protocol for the JCMST was a follow-through activity of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on S&T Cooperation between DOST and MOST last August. The MOU was part of the deliverables during the 5th working visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to China. Both President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the exchange of the agreement signed between DOST and the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs during the said working visit.

Protocols for the JCMST are held biennially to discuss current status of S&T relationship between the Philippines and China. Likewise, the protocols also serve as an avenue to identify future programs and activities to be jointly implemented by both countries.

The next Protocol for the JCMST will be in 2021, to be hosted by DOST either in Cebu or Davao.