Resource-based technology needs assessment : a creation of model for environmentally sound technology action planning for MSMES climate change adaptation / Emiel Prisco N. Discar

Year : 2014

Number of Pages : 74 leaves

Adviser : Prof. Glen A. Imbang

Executive Summary

The Resource-based Technology Needs Assessment was conducted during the period of November 2013 to February 2014. It is obvious that, by coincidence, the activity was done at the midst of post disaster period, that is, after the hit of super typhoon Yolanda in the province where the resources have been devastated. This become a challenge of the Author - on how DOST as lead S&T driver will contribute in providing S&T solutions to economic needs of the society. The study will provide information or establish options that may be crucial in decision making process for economic activities in the province, specifically : 1. For PSTC personnel, the result of the study will provide advance information on the priority sectors that have competitive advantage. The technology needs in the priority sectors, in a way, will support the identification and selection of high impact enterprises. 2. For private inventors, R&D teams and RDIs, the identified potential technologies for the prioritized sector will be a vital input in establishing a resourced and technology-based R&D portfolio that would gear towards answering the needs of entrepreneurs. 3. The result of the study will likewise inspire local entrepreneurs to look for sweet spots in identifying technology-based enterprise that will help spur the economic condition of the province. 4. The result will also help in influencing planners, policy makers and other actors in incorporating resource and technology-based enterprise strategy in the economic development agenda and innovation system development of the province. 5. For technology managers, the result of the study will serve as baseline information in strategizing the establishment of technology management system in the province. Perhaps, a road map will be created to in-place its technology innovation system. The study was focused on the first major step of strategic management process (e.g. analysis, formulation, implementation, adjustment/evaluation) as designed to satisfy strategic imperatives for building competitive advantage, (Pitts and Lei, 2007). The major activities conducted were : a) scanning of primary and secondary resources available in the province b) scanning of available and potential technologies within the DOST research and development institutes c) matching these resources and technologies with the identified priority industry sectors of the DOST (food processing industry, furniture industry, aquamarine industry, agriculture/horticulture industry, GDH industry, metal and engineering industry, pharmaceutical industry, ICT/electronics industry, and packaging/labelling industry) c) prioritization of the industry sectors d) Environmental scanning that may shape the top priority industry. Data gathering was done through internet search, personal visit and interviews to extract secondary data from different research and development institutes and council of the DOST (e.g. FNRI, PTRI, ITDI, FPRDI, PCAARRD, etc.), Provincial Planning and Development Office, Office of the Provincial Agriculture and Services, Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office and Bureau of Agriculture Statistics Office, etc. The study reveals that there are substantial primary resources from marine/aquatic, agriculture, forest and minerals are available in Eastern Samar. Likewise, there are several local technologies available in the DOST RDIs that may provide support in selected industry. The following highlights are the result of the resource-based technology needs assessment : a. The food processing industry in the province is highly dependent on the raw materials supplied from agriculture sector. A lot of technologies (e.g. process and methods) are developed by ITDI and FNRI. Machines and equipment that supports the industry mostly comes from private sectors. b. Existing technologies from RDIs are sufficient to support the furniture industry in Eastern Samar. There are existing raw materials, but now depleting, hence, the industry is detrimental to environment. Based on current practice, the raw materials are being exploited without replenishing or replanting. The industry maybe sustainable if the players will adopt some programs introduced by DENR.

c. The province has available raw materials for gifts, decors and handicraft industry, especially local resources from forest areas (e.g. trees, vines, palms, grasses and herbs, ferns, pandan, etc.). On the other hand, available technologies from PTRI and FPRDI could answer the needs of the industry. Weaving machine for indigenous mats, hats and bags and sewing machine for nipa shingles for thatch ("pawod") production are potential R&D projects for research and development firms or institutes. These machines will probably enhance the weaving and nipa thatching activities of the industry players. d. Before the typhoon Yolanda hits the province, Guiuan, Borongan and other municipalities were one of the suppliers of marine products to other places like Tacloban, Cebu and Manila. The players of marine and aquatic industry in the province are on the stage of recovery and rehabilitation - from cages production, motor boats and fishing gears acquisition. It is anticipated, that within a year, the industry will be revitalized, and again will sustain the supply of the marine primary products such as live lapu-lapu, yellow fins, mud crabs, blue crabs, lobster, etc. DOST RDIs have technologies ready for commercialization that may support the development of marine and aquatic industry in the province. Likewise, these RDIs are working with universities and private firms to develop further technologies that may compliment the industry sector. e. DOST RDIs have developed technologies for commercialization, particularly machines and equipment, to enhance the activities from land preparation, planting, harvesting, to storage. Also, there are a lot of S&T based programs of DOST that could support the organic farming system in the province. Eastern Samar is rich in natural resources, particularly minerals such as chromite, gold, bauxite, nickel etc. These minerals, taking as raw materials, can be a spinoff to metal and engineering industry in the province, instead of taking out or importing to other countries. On the other hand, mining industry in the province is detrimental to environment. Although, responsible mining are the offerings of the mining firms, yet, it is perceived by the people that the mining areas vacated by the firms remain unproductive and idle, therefore, not sustainable. It is a challenge for the RDIs to develop and promote technologies that may complement metal industry in the province. g. There are no local raw materials that may support the ICT/electronics industry in the province. h. In terms of pharmaceuticals, the province has insufficient source of supply for medicinal plants, although there are available materials but in smaller quantity. Process technologies and machines developed from different RDIs are ready for commercialization and have to conduct more R&D activities to complement the industry. i. The province has potential to produce an eco-friendly packaging materials by utilizing fibrous raw materials available in the locality. Technologies from FPRDI, especially, in paper making, are readily available for commercialization. The identified industry sectors of the DOST evaluated based on the following attributes, resulted to identify the top priority industry sector in Easter Samar, to wit : a) availability of local resources, b) availability of solutions (existing technologies), c) Impact of the industry (in terms of solution to current issue and problems arising in the province), d) Potential contributor for economic development, e) sustainability to climate change. Agriculture/horticulture industry being the top priority followed by aquamarine industry, food processing industry, GDH industry, Health Products Services / Pharmaceuticals Industry, furniture industry, product packaging and labelling, metals and engineering industry and the least is the ICT/Electronics industry. Agriculture/horticulture and marine industry will be the platform industries that will influence other related industries to enter (e.g. food processing and packaging and labelling). Accordingly, the environmental dimensions of the agricultural industry (agribusiness industry) per see, points out different challenges, opportunities and threats particularly in the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental dimensions. Technologically, the general condition of the Philippine National Innovation System is technically a great challenge for policy makers to make it effective and productive. As Posadas (2013) asserts, the country did not lack administrative structures, priority lists, and plans for science and technology. It suffered, however, from very low public commitment to STI, academic research, and public and private R&D. All these commitments have been absent in the entire story of the Philippines, under both Spanish and American rule, as well as since independence in 1946. Investments in R&D have been low, and policy incentives for the private sector basically non-existent. Public commitment to education is as paper-thin as that to S&T and helps explain the continuous down-grading of the country. This has perpetuated a vicious circle of S&T underdevelopment and dependence, which is the central problem of national S&T development in the Philippines (as cited in Niosi, 2010). Of course the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development are on their track to provide innovations that will help enhance the activities in the agricultural industry. The province has to initiate in the development of Agricultural Innovation System in an Agricultural Value Chain System. The purpose of which is to harmonize the interrelated activities involved in the agricultural innovation system. A technology management team has to be organized and whose major role is to orchestrate the technical and management functions from technology generation, technology protection, diffusion and commercialization in the different industry sectors, especially, agricultural industry sector.