ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS FOR GRASSROOTS NEEDS:

INSIGHTS FROM MULTIPLE RESOURCE SPEAKERS FROM NGO, ACADEME, AND PO

INTERFACE ON APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

SUMMARY REPORT ON SEMINAR

PROCEEDINGS

DOMT 2-1

April 26, 2023| 8 AM

PUP C.M Recto Hall

Introduction

The Agham Youth organized, with the support of the Polytechnic University of the
Philippines (PUP), a seminar about Enhancing Technologies and Innovations for Grassroots
Needs: Insights from Multiple Resource Speakers from NGO, Academe, and PO Interface on
Appropriate Technology in Claro M. Recto Hall, April 26, 2023. The seminar delved into
various topics in the field of Science and Technology which helps the student to learn more
about Agriculture, Climate Change, Innovations, Science and Technology etc., that definitely
will help to improve society in the future.

Objectives of the Seminar

SPEAKER 1

Engr. Reynaldo Esguerra

TOPIC: Current Priorities and Direction of SAT and Engineering Research and Development
it talks about these following:

- Zero Hunger
- Circular Economy
- In every administration there is a project called PDP which is the Philippines
Development Plan. This is just like a map of everything that the president wanted to
happen until he finished his term.
- Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda in DOST
- Global Warming is already known, the Philippines contributes about 0.38%
greenhouse gases. However, we lessen our designated contribution and in 2000-2019
Philippines was the fourth country that harnessed the heat effect from climate
change.
- Emergency Disinfection System
- Treatment System for Piggery
SPEAKER 2

Professor Eeres Macabebe

TOPIC: R&D Towards Sustainable Community

The first speaker, Eng. Renaldo expresses why Engineering Promote Deve balanced
because they are the ones who design, make, and create some of the beautiful creations
that we have now and because they want to spread on how to improve and develop but
unfortunately not everyone benefits from it, and they want it to be balanced. The speaker of
R&D Toward Sustainable Community said that “sustainable energy is the golden thread that
links most of the SDGs and the pledge to leave no one behind.” – Amina J. Mohammed 2018.

Project: 3 Financial support platform for sustainable Circular Local Economy

Solar dryer for agriculture household use

- After one day they are able to dry at least one but still need to dry it for the following
day.
- If you want your innovation to be accepted by locals, you should have lessened the
destruction that it may cause.

5 Philippines Groundwater Outlook

SPEAKER 3

Honey Toniedo

TOPIC: Science for the People

AGHAM national organization of Eng. Science advocator etc. To promote science technology
to other people.

Rapid assessment of oil spill impact in Mindoro

On Feb 28, 2023, 800 gallons liters of oil caused vomiting, dizziness, and tummy ache for
people who got exposed too long in the oil spill. People in Mindoro face 5 weeks of not
having income because of this unexpected calamity. It says that the oil spill caused more
damage than COVID 19 or during the pandemic because they got their daily income by
fishing.

SPEAKER 4

Jenny Rosario

TOPIC: SIBAT Sustainable Agriculture

- Community base and farmer centered.

- Give training.
- Adaptability Trial for Climate Re
- High Value Crops without chemical fertilizer (cabbage, carrots, mushroom)
- Fermented organic water they compose to use it as fertilizer in soil.
- They create their own food for their animals using vegetables and fruits.
- Mushroom Production
- Experimentation of Organically Grown
- The Philippines is an agricultural country.
- Mechanical Engr.
SPEAKER 5

Engr. Bacala

TOPIC: SIBAT Renewable Energy

- Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya Inc (SIBAT)

- To improve the development of technology.
- Create tech Fabrication of turbines and ELC for MHPs
- They also develop agricultural equipment and tools.

Climate Change network for community-based initiative, Inc CCNCI

Mainstreaming climate change education through the art approach

Project is to focus on a learning plan for agroecology. There are specific problems to solve
which is food security in our country. The new generation is needed for this project by also
combining science with traditional practice to produce seed through appropriate technology.
In short, we need youth for them to know or have knowledge about agriculture. 10 weeks
training as youth farmers as practical scientists. Farmer centered environment friendly and
focused on food security amid climate changes.

CCNCI believes in system change to address climate change comprehensively. Development

that takes into consideration people’s needs.

It aims to facilitate and coordinate resources, exchanges of experiences.

Core Issue

Landlessness, land grabbing and displacement, land convention, backwards means of

production, liberalization of agriculture, export-orientation of agriculture, reclamation,
mining, and logging.
SPEAKER 6

Dr. Jenny

TOPIC: Breakthroughs, Gaps, and Challenges in Responding to Community Needs

CCNCI is a community-based organization. CCNCI is mainstreaming climate change education

through the art approach because they noticed the importance of knowing what climate
change is and why it is one of the main issues we are going to face. She shared what
Agroecology is and what might affect food security in the future.

CCNCI challenges involving youth farmers as new generation climate change actors.

CCNCI organized a 10-week training that addresses one of the biggest challenges for farmers
to have seed or rice seed because it is resilient to any natural disaster.

They believe that we must preserve our environment, especially for future generations, and
focus on food security amid climate change.

Gaps and Challenges

● Organic Farming Technology is not readily available.

● Traditional Farming is labeled as backward and non-competitive but in reality, it is
more culturally appropriate, acceptable, and less destructive.
● Evidence-based Advocacy of Agroecology and sustainable agriculture as a critical
climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy

CCNCI advocates for:

● system change to address climate change comprehensively.

● Science-based solutions combined with indigenous knowledge for promotion and
support through legislation and policy reforms.
● development that takes into consideration people’s needs and capacities to be able
to adapt and mitigate climate change.

They are calling for climate justice.

SPEAKER 7
Ms. Burly Mango

TOPIC: Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes Inc. (PNFSP)

Ms. Burly is an Executive Director of Philippine Network of Food Security

Programmes Inc. (PNFSP) and she is also a long time advocate of Farmer's Rice and
Agroecology. Ms. Burly gives us some knowledge about what PNFSP does. PNFSP is
composed of Non-Governmental Organizations that promote the right to sustainable
development and sustainable agriculture. The Organization aims to facilitate and coordinate
resources, exchange experiences and information in a concerted effort to combat hunger
and create conditions that will allow all to live healthy and active life. Members of PNFSP
exchange knowledge. According to Ms. Burly, Food Security exists when all people at all
times have physical and economical access to sufficient, safe, affordable nutritious food that
meets their dietary needs and food preferences for active life, but all this is not achieved
because of the problems faced by the food producers. These problems include the following:
(1) LANDLESSNESS, 7 out of 10 farmers doesn't own a land. LAND CONVERTION, turning the
farm into a commercial property. EXPORT ORIENTATION, EXPORT ORIENTATION, example of
this is the Rice Liberalization Law that is a bad move of the Government because Philippines
is an agricultural country, but they import rice.

PNFSP has the following programs :‌

- SACLAT Sustainable Agriculture and Community Base Appropriate Technology

- Research Development and Resource Program
- Campaign Advocacy and Networking Program
- Capability Building and Network
- Strengthening Networking and Solidarity Program

PNSFP has a present program that is named AGROECOLOGY. This program is in Caraga Area.
They are developing a Learning Farm in Surigao and they teach them how to improve things
in agriculture.
SPEAKER 8

Ms. Lucia Ortiz

TOPIC: MASIPAG Organization (Magsasaka Siyentipiko Para Sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura).

Ms. Lucia introduced to us the MASIPAG organization (Magsasaka Siyentipiko para sa

Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura). Masipag organization aims to provide help for sustainable
agriculture, for using natural genetic resources and for the appropriate technology. MASIPAG
is composed of about 500+ People's Organizations, 43 Non-Governmental Organizations and
33 scientists helping MASIPAG organization maintains 2000+ variety of palay. They are also
helping farmers in sovereignty in seeds and technology. MASIPAG organization is
collaborating with other NGO like AGHAM AND SIPAG. These organizations help each other
to pave the way for Farmers and their aspirations. MASIPAG wants to identify the problems
of the Filipino farmers and to give them proper solutions. Ms. Ortiz clarifies that MASIPAG
organization is not Anti-science and Anti-Development. She added that it is better to ask the
community first before offering and prescribing solutions that are inappropriate for their
needs. And she also discusses there are 3 sectors that help each other to help the
sustainable for small farmer like technologies and so on. She also discusses the mistakes of
GREEN REVOLUTION, it was created to help farmers for their harvesting. They have this kind
of technology and chemicals to make the farmers job easily but as per result nothing
happened. although it had several benefits to the farmers. The GREEN REVOLUTION had
some negative effects on the environment and society. As a result of this period, some small
farmers had to sell their land because they could not afford the new technologies. That's
why we have SIPAG to help small farmers to regain what they lost.
SPEAKER 9

Aina Aleco Silverio

TOPIC: Pamilacan System Updates and Lessons from the Project

Ms. Aina talked about the Bohol experiment from 2017, where they carried out a
solar energy project that supplied energy to at least 300 homes on the island. At the time,
the island only had electricity from six in the afternoon until midnight. They have generators,
but everyone knew that this was insufficient. They were unable to live decently because of
it. That's why Ms. Aina shares this topic to my fellow students at the Polytechnic University
of the Philippines to learn how to live with solar energy and allows you to take control of
your energy use.

SPEAKER 10

Dr. Gino Andres

TOPIC: Research, Extension, Planning and Development

Dr. Gino discussed the organization structure of OVPREPD and statue of the Philippines in
terms of research production and publication. While he was standing on the stage he
introduced Research management, Gender and Development and also about institutional
Quality management systems. Having a lot of discussion he share about the budget for
research and development,research assistance in term of financial it in 2023 it decreased
percentage in 2022 50% and he spill that we have only 174 researcher other country, but it
supposed to be a 300 researcher.