DOST-6 eyes better projects, plans for Boracay
Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) 6 Regional Director Engr. Rowen
Gelonga presents to DOST Secretary
Dr. Estrella Alabastro the products
coming from Western Visayas during the
SET-UP Products Exhibit held in Cebu City
last week.
Maricar M. Calubiran photo
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 6 was asked to come up with better project plans and programs in Boracay Island to meet the needs and demands of local and foreign tourists in terms of processed food products, furnitures and even environmental protection plans for the island.
The recommendation for the regional office was made by the performance review team led by Prof. Edison Cruz, executive director of the Technology Management Center of the University of the Philippines in Diliman in last week's performance review of DOST regional offices held in Cebu City.
The performance team wants the department to take a look on the food handling, services and distribution of processed foods in the island considering the number of tourists who visited the island. Currently, the local tourists, Koreans and Europeans posted the highest number of visitors in the island.
The team is asking the regional office to determine the number of tourist arrivals including their age and nationality. The data are all available at the Department of Tourism (DoT) office. The DOT has an office in the island to cater to the needs of the local and foreign tourists. The team also asked that data on the tourists preferences on their wants and needs should also be included.
The performance team also wants the department to give importance on the furniture industry in the island with foreigners as the main clients of high-end products coming from the province of Aklan. Among the companies which DOST already made an intervention are those engaged in housewares. The housewares such as place mats and trays are handcrafted from woven into vines.
Other products produced in Aklan are barong tagalog, shawls, scarf, hand bag made of natural fibers like piña, silk and abaca. The DOST made intervention on bangus processing. They made a technology transfer on fish processing that prompted an increase of production capacity of one company producing ready-to-eat bottled milk fish in oil from 500 to 1,000 bottles per month.
The same team also wants the regional office to take part in the protection of the island though it is the primary role of the local government unit and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The waste disposal and the end-waste produce in the island should be considered. There should also be "tsunami mitigation plan" for the island.
On his part, DOST 6 Regional Director Engr. Rowen Gelonga said they have already conceptualized a plan for Boracay. The programs and plans will be out next month. It was not immediately known what are the projects included in the DOST programs and plans for Boracay.
Meanwhile, DoT Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said they have already conducted number of seminars in the island with regard to food handling. Food handling is one of the basis of customers in buying certain products and choosing a restaurant on where to dine and wind.