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Department of Science and Technology (DOST) officials and employees, together with their associates and friends, focused this year’s Christmas celebration on helping others, especially typhoon Pablo victims in Mindanao. In a fundraising and charity activity billed as “Sulong Tulong para sa Mindanao” (S & T for Mindanao), DOST raised a total of around P 110,000 in cash as of press time and collected various donations in kind. “S&T para sa Mindanao” is a continuing activity, thus the amount is expected to increase as donations and pledges continue to pour in.

 

First they laid the track. Now they ride the coach. In the maiden test run last Friday of the country’s first ever train developed by local experts, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario G. Montejo and University of the Philippines (UP) President Alfredo Pascual personally board the train to see how the ride goes.

The train, also called the Automated Guideway Transit or simply AGT, is designed by DOST engineers in consultation with UP experts. The AGT’s test run, when completed, would establish the train’s speed and capacity; polish its mechanisms, controls, power, and stress systems; and fine-tune its troubleshooting procedures. The goal is a fully-automated and emission-free transportation capable of carrying up to 60 passengers per trip.

 

The Information and Communications Technology Office of Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICTO) recently introduced its upcoming flagship program that is expected to speed up the country’s economy towards substantial growth via ICT.

Called “Smarter Philippines”, it is a program that will use ICT as enabling tool to provide more efficient and reliable services in some priority industries in the country. It has several components such as Smarter Governance, Smarter People, Smarter High-Tech Industry, Smarter Computing, Smarter SME’s, Smarter Agriculture World Development, Smarter Environmental Healthcare, Energy and Transport, Smarter Disaster and Mitigation Public Safety and Smarter Cities.