DIPOLOG CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA)
- - Emphasizing the value of education, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III has
during his recent visit here called on the students and teachers to be more
innovative to make themselves productive and competent.
President Aquino came over
upon the invitation of the officials of Andres Bonifacio College (ABC) as guest
of honor in the inauguration of the college’s Graduate and Professional School
(GPS) building.
The chief executive has
recalled the inspiring history of ABC from the time of its establishment in
1940 by its founder, Amando B. Amatong, with only seven students and five
teachers.
“You are definitely one of
the leading bastions of good and quality education in Region IX and your
students are oozing with excellence in the different fields,” the President
told his audience consisting of school officials, faculty, students, media men
and alumni.
He also pointed out that ”every
foundation of the school is a symbol of mighty future as its legacy to the students,
each floor epitomizes the lifting up of the wisdom of the students, and every
metric-inch is a strong assurance of a good future for Dipolognons.”
The President also cited
in his speech the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Dr. Justino Arboleda of
Bicol State University (BSU), who is a graduate of agricultural engineering
with master’s and doctorate degrees from Tokyo University. Arboleda resigned as
a dean of BSU to personally attend to his innovative engineering technology of
coconut geotextile or coconet made of coconut husk. He is now running his own business,
the Coco
Technologies Corporation (Cocotech).
Aquino said, Arboleda
wanted to show us that our primary agricultural product is coconut but we are focusing
more on rice and corn. “There is absolutely an irony,” said the President.
“It’s hard to say this but
government funds for research and development sometimes are allocated more on
the study of rice and corn,” disclosed the chief executive.
“I commend the persistence of Dr. Arboleda who
did not limit himself to the old school and practices,” declared the President.
Coco coir fiber has been
used in preventing landslides and soil erosion, serving as substitute for tree
roots by holding loose soil together.
Because of Arboleda’s
product, the government was able to save big amount for the slope protection
projects of the Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH).
The chief executive
explained that if the coco coir would be used in slope protection projects, it
is less expensive and environment-friendly.
Dr. Arboleda’s technology
has provided livelihood to more than 1,400 households in Bicol that are now
making geotextile materials. He also received a Global 100 Eco-Tech award at
World Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan.
The
slope protection projects in Tagaytay highlands and the ripraps along the
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expresway (SCTEx) have used
Arboleda’s technology.
“I am anticipating that
our students and educators will emulate the innovativeness of Dr. Arboledo who
diligently and persistently comes up with a brilliant invention favorable to
the community,” urged the chief executive. (FPG/MAA/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)