DOST-MIMAROPA aids Romblon’s S&T committee with waste management of the marble industry
The Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Committee of Romblon, Romblon started identifying STI-related programs and initiatives, one of which is the enhancement of the existing marble industry in the municipality, in a coordination meeting held last January 27 January 2022 at the Romblon Old Municipal Building, Romblon, Romblon.
The committee and the DOST-MIMAROPA Provincial S&T Center in Romblon (PSTC-Romblon) discussed municipal gaps and opportunities in the province including the utilization and management of marble wastes such as marble dust. DOST-MIMAROPA, for its part, will also perform a consultative and advisory function to the STI committee.
In particular, the Romblon STI committee eyes various marble dust-related research and development endeavors such as its value addition for economic development, mitigation of sedimentation of marble dust runoff to riverbeds and farm fields, and further studies on minimizing its impacts on workers' health.
The municipality of Romblon, Romblon is one of the three (3) pilot local government units (LGUs) in the region to have institutionalized its STI committee through Municipal Executive Order no. 39-201, established in November 2021.
The institutionalization of the STI committee in LGUs was strengthened through the endorsement of the policy by the MIMAROPA Regional Development and Innovation Committee (RRDIC) to the MIMAROPA Regional Development Council (RDC). On the other hand, MIMAROPA RDC, by virtue of Resolution No 2021-076-1013, approved and endorsed the adoption of the policy guidelines on the creation, strengthening, and institutionalization of the local STI committee in September 2021.
The STI committee will then help reinforce and strengthen the engagement of LGUs in the identification and implementation of appropriate STI programs, projects, services, and activities in the city/ municipal level.
The Romblon, Romblon STII Committee is headed by the municipal mayor and composed of the STI focal person and officers representing various sectors of the LGU including the municipal planning and development coordinator, agriculturist, health officer, social welfare and development officer, and the municipal engineer. There are also representatives from the budget office and committee on appropriations for financial matters as well as from the academe and civil society organizations. (30)
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