Updated at 10 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2020 for more information.
By EDD K. USMAN
Twitter: @edd1819, Instagram: @bluestar0910, Facebook: SDN — Science, Digital & Current Affairs
(SDN) — “WE are happy to assist our ASEAN counterparts and exemplify what the mantra “ASEAN helping ASEAN’ truly means.”
The inspiring words came from the head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, which he uttered during a meeting with 23 scholars from some member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.
Here are some photographs from DOST that captured the inspiring moments when de la Peña and other department officials and those from its attached agencies hosted and met the ASEAN scholars at the DOST Central Office in Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila:
The event on Wednesday, January 22, as reported on the DOST Facebook page is described as a “get-together” with the scholars and partner universities of the department. DOST has been tapping state universities for its various programs aimed at strengthening science, technology and innovation (STI) in the country and be of benefit to the larger population.
Obviously, the benefit is also cross-border among ASEAN communities.
“We are happy that we continue to make an impact in the ASEAN Region by having this international scholarship program. This program is a pioneering one, maybe not just for the Department of Science and Technology, but for the Philippine government as well,” said de la Peña.
A total of 23 scholars, the second batch of the program, fall under the DOST Scholarship Program for ASEAN Researchers. They are taking master’s degree in engineering and science field.
In a sense, the science department’s scholarship program is a two-way street, which means that as the DOST accepts from other ASEAN members, it is also sending Filipino scholars to some ASEAN — even non-ASEAN — countries.
The latest scholars are from Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar, which are three of the 10 ASEAN members. Other members are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
They are studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) in Quezon City, De UP Los Baños (UPLB), UP Manila (UPM), and De La Salle University (DLSU).
As early as now, the SEI, which manages DOST’s various scholarship programs, is already eyeing the third batch of the international scholarship program.
Biyo revealed this at the get-together, saying “her team will be visiting the aforementioned ASEAN members states in March” to screen the next scholar’s batch.
Also present at the event included DOST Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation Dr. Leah J. Buendia, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, as well as SEI Deputy Director Albert G. Mariño.
Other DOST agencies offering scholarships are PCAARRD, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), National Research Council of the Philippines (NRC), and Philippine Science High School (PSHS) or “Pisay”. (SDN)
All images from DOST.