By Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – The city plays host to the
2013 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) with the theme, “Inventions
and Innovations for Smarter Philippines” held at the Gaisano Mall starting Nov.
28 to Dec. 1.
In his welcome message, Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones who was
represented by City Administrator Prixio Daniel said “this science and
technology event will give us the opportunity to see for ourselves the new
ideas and devices from our very own inventors in the region.”
“The efforts of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) and its coordinating organizations are impressive and
commendable because this will indeed inspire and encourage further the
ingenuity of our inventors whose hidden talents and unique abilities are not
exposed and recognized,” Pulmones stressed.
Meanwhile, Engr. Mahmud Kingking, assistant regional
director for field operations of DOST-9, said “this event gives importance to
our local inventors and researchers who will be considered the architects,
builders, troubleshooters and problem fixers of our society.”
“The conduct of RICE is very timely especially we are
moving towards the unification of the ASEAN communities by year 2015. We need
to prepare ourselves for the greater challenges in our lives because we are expecting
more stiff competitions especially in the areas of business, education,
agriculture, transportation industry and even in the service sector,” Kingking
said.
Kingking underscored the importance of being
competitive through innovations and inventions to survive these days.
On the other hand, Zamboanga del Sur first district Representative
Victor J. Yu who chairs the House Science and Technology Committee expressed optimism
that such exhibit could have more impact by inviting and encouraging more
inventors to join. He also urged the local government units to extend full
support to the activity.
Activities like this, he said, “will help motivate,
encourage and inspire our younger generations to focus more on science and
technology (S&T). We must admit that in the near future S&T will
determine our everyday life, as science and technology advances.