DOST-TAPI Lunduyan 2025: Pagtatagpo ng Dunong at Paglalakbay ng Inobasyon

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

“Sumisilip na ang liwanag, hudyat ng paglalayag…” Sa pagpasok ng himig na ito mula sa opisyal na awitin ng Lunduyan, malinaw ang isinasalaysay: may bagong kabanata na namang binubuksan para sa mga pinoy inventors, innovators, technopreneurs, at katuwang na institusyon ng bansa. At sa pagdiriwang noong Nobyembre 7, 2025 sa Alabang, Muntinlupa City, matagumpay na ginunita ng Department of Science and Technology -Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) ang Lunduyan 2025, ang taunang pagtitipong muling naglaan ng pagkakataon para sa pagkilala, pag-uugnay, at pagbibigay-halaga sa mga teknolohiyang Pilipino.

Lunduyan Bilang Tagpuan ng Ugnayan at Paglikha

Ngayong taon, tampok ang dalawampu’t-apat (24) na aprubadong proyekto para sa taong 2025 at apat (4) na matagumpay na proyektong unang itinanghal sa Lunduyan noong 2024. Sa kabuuan, ang dalawampu't walong (28) teknolohiyang ipinamalas ay nagpapatunay ng lumalawak na kakayahan ng Filipino innovators at ng patuloy na paggabay ng DOST-TAPI sa kanilang paglalakbay, mula sa pagbuo ng ideya, paggawa ng prototype, pagsusuri, hanggang sa pagsulong sa merkado. Ang Lunduyan ay nabuo bilang isang sentrong nagsisilbing tagpuan ng iba’t ibang sektor, industriya, at adbokasiya. Sa bawat taong pagdaraos nito, mas tumitibay ang layunin nitong lumikha ng puwang kung saan maaaring makilala, maipakilala, at mapagtibay ang mga proyektong may kakayahang baguhin ang buhay, kabuhayan, at kinabukasan ng komunidad. Bilang pangunahing ahensya sa ilalim ng DOST para sa commercialization support, ang DOST-TAPI ang gumagabay sa mga teknolohiyang Pilipino upang makatawid mula laboratoryo patungong lipunan. Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga inisyatibo, inilalapit nila ang agham at inobasyon sa merkado bilang tugon sa pangangailangan ng bawat mamamayan.

Sa kanyang pambungad na mensahe, ibinahagi ni Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Director ng DOST-TAPI, na ang Lunduyan ay hindi lamang pagtatanghal ng mga proyektong matagumpay na naisakatuparan, kundi isang patunay na nagtatagpo ang agham, teknolohiya, at pangarap upang makabuo ng mga solusyong tunay na makabuluhan. Binigyang-diin niya kung papaano nakakatulong ang DOST-TAPI sa mga Filipino innovator sa pamamagitan ng mga programang tulad ng Grants and Assistance to Leverage Innovations for National Growth o GALING Program, Technology Innovation for Commercialization o TECHNiCOM Program, at Expanded Venture Financing Program o EVFP ay nagiging gabay ng paglalakbay tungo sa commercialization. “Mula sa ideation, prototyping hanggang commercialization, kayo ay patunay na kapag pinagsama-sama ang siyensya, dedikasyon, at suporta, walang imposible,” banggit pa ni Director Decena.

Naki-isa rin sa pagdiriwang si Asec. Napoleon K. Juanillo, Jr., DOST Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization, na naghatid ng mensahe sa ngalan ni DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. Ipinahayag niya na ang Lunduyan ay isang larawan ng kapangyarihan ng pagkakabuklod-buklod at pagtutulungan at ng tibay ng loob ng mga Pilipinong innovator. Sa kanyang talumpati, binigyang diin niya ang pag-angat ng bansa sa Global Innovation Index 2025 mula Rank 53 tungo sa Rank 50 at kung paanong ang mga inisyatibo ng DOST-TAPI ay may malaking ambag dito. Aniya, ang mga kwento ng tagumpay sa Lunduyan ay hindi lamang kwento ng teknolohiya, kundi kwento ng pag-asa at pag-unlad na kayang marating ng sambayanang Pilipino sa tulong ng agham at inobasyon.

Mga Kuwento ng Tagumpay at Pag-usbong

Isa sa mga itinampok na kwento ng tagumpay ngayong taon ang DOON Transport Technologies Inc., proponent ng TECHNiCOM Program, na patuloy na lumalawak bilang pioneer ng peer-to-peer car-sharing sa bansa. Mula sa simpleng ideya tungkol sa hindi pantay na access sa mobility, nakamit nila ang 6x increase sa angel funding, mahigit 5,000 verified users, 700 na sasakyang naka-register, at operasyon sa higit 90 lungsod sa buong Pilipinas. Sa mga salitang binitawan ni Miguel Locsin, co-founder ng DOON: “The breakthrough came when DOST-TAPI believed in our mission. Their support didn’t just fund us, it validated us.” Dahil sa tulong ng TAPI, nakapagpatibay sila ng legal groundwork at nakapagsagawa ng pag-aaral na makatutulong para sa pagbuo ng mga patakaran tungkol sa car-sharing sa bansa.

Kasama rin sa mga kinilala si Alvin Phoebe Artemis Valdez, founder ng Farmesto Technologies Inc., proponent ng GALING Program, na nagpaunlad ng AI-based dosing system para sa greenhouse operations. Ayon kay Valdez, ang kanilang inobasyon ay nabuo mula sa pagnanais na tugunan ang paulit-ulit na hamon sa agrikultura tulad inefficiency, unpredictability, at kakulangan sa data-driven insights. Sa tulong ng GALING Program, na-enhance nila ang kanilang prototype at nagkaroon ng access sa mga tools at network na kailangan upang maipakilala ang teknolohiya sa merkado. Sa kanyang talumpati, binigyang-diin niya na “Ang tunay na inobasyon ay hindi lamang technical novelty, kundi ang kakayahang lutasin ang tunay na problema ng magsasaka.”

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang FASI Form System sa ilalim ng Innovation and Technology Lending Program o ii-TECH Lending Program. Mula sa pangarap noong dekada ‘70 na lumikha ng mas matibay at reusable panel forms kapalit ng plywood, ipinamalas ni Frederick Erum kung paano nagiging solusyon ang teknolohiya sa mga hamon ng industriya ng konstruksyon. Sa tulong ng i-TECH Loan, napanatili nila ang buffer stock at naipatupad ang rental system upang mas mabilis na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga contractor. Ayon kay Erum, “Napakahalaga ng tulong ng gobyerno. It gives inventors like us the confidence to keep building solutions for the country.”

Isang Simula at Pagtatagpo sa Susunod na Yugto

Sa kabuuan ng pagdiriwang, hindi lamang mga teknolohiya ang ipinakita kundi ang mga mukha, boses, at pangarap na bumubuo sa innovation ecosystem ng Pilipinas. Ang seremonya ng parangal para sa mga 2025 Invention and Innovation Champions, ang pagpapakilala sa mga bagong inisyatiba, at ang paglagda sa MOU kasama ang AHG Lab ay nagsisilbing patunay na lumalawak ang komunidad na kumikilala sa agham at teknolohiya bilang sa pangunahing haligi tungo sa kaunlaran ng bansa.

Sa pagtatapos ng programa, muling umalingawngaw ang mga linya ng awitin: “Ang tadhana’y luukit na ng mga palad mo, ipapakita ang pagiging malikhain mo…” At sa pagbalik-tanaw ng lahat sa mga inobasyong nakita at mga kuwentong narinig, naging malinaw na ang Lunduyan ay hindi isang destinasyon, ito ay pinanggagalingan ng susunod na yugto.

Isang tagpuan kung saan nagsisimula ang panibagong paglalakbay.

Isang sentro kung saan nagtatagpo ang agham, talino, at pag-asa.

Isang paalala na ang inobasyon ay patuloy na nabubuhay sa bawat Pilipinong handang mangarap at kumilos.

Sa pagtatapos ng pagtitipon, iisa malinaw na mensahe ang iniwan sa bawat dumalo:

Magtatagpo tayong muli. Magtatagpo sa Lunduyan.

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Lunduyan serves as the annual culminating event of DOST-TAPI, highlighting approved invention and innovation projects that embody the nation’s scientific and technological progress. Symbolizing the convergence of diverse sectors, industries, and advocacies, Lunduyan celebrates the collective journey toward a more connected and empowered society through science, technology, and innovation.

The Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) is among the DOST’s service agencies tasked to promote technology commercialization and innovation support services, created under the Executive Order No.128 on 30 January 1987.

For more information about DOST-TAPI’s programs and services, you may email info@tapi.dost.gov.ph, call (02) 8582 1450, or visit the official DOST-TAPI Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI.

IN PHOTO (from left to right): Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, Director of Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI); Atty. Lucieden G. Raz, Deputy Director of Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI); Engr. Maria Teresa Bien De Guzman, Assistant Secretary for Countryside Development of DOST; Dr. Teodoro Gatchalian, Undersecretary for Special Concerns of DOST; Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Director of Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI); Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization, along with DOST-TAPI partners and supported innovators.

DepEd pushes long-term education fixes as nationwide MANCOM convenes in Palawan

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, 17 November 2025 — The Department of Education emphasized long-term structural reforms in basic education as regional officials from across the country met in Palawan for the nationwide Management Committee Meeting, using MIMAROPA’s conditions as a working case to strengthen learning continuity, system integrity, and school readiness in disaster-prone areas.

“Ang bilin ng Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr., tungkulin natin ay hindi lang tumugon sa problema,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who accompanied the President during the post-disaster rehabilitation efforts in Negros Occidental over the weekend. “Ang tungkulin natin ay ayusin ang ugat ng problema para hindi na ito maulit sa susunod na henerasyon.”

The meeting reviewed how recent typhoons disrupted classes nationwide and exposed long-standing vulnerabilities in schools. In Palawan, division reports confirmed 781 damaged classrooms due to Typhoon Tino, with repairs ongoing, while shifts to modular and digital Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) continue where power and connectivity remain unstable.

DepEd said the school damage in island provinces reinforces the need for resilient construction, stronger ADM systems, and funding strategies that match recurring risks, noting that divisions with frequent class suspensions require more predictable support.

Regional directors also reported on its response to recent typhoons, detailing classroom damages and the ongoing use of modular and digital learning across Regions II, CAR, IV-A, V, NIR, and VII, as officials discussed nationwide strategies.

National reforms were also presented, including updates to the Strengthened Senior High School Program, wherein the 1st quarter rapid assessment yielded generally positive results.

Field piloting and finalization of the SSHS Monitoring Tool (SSHSMT) are underway. With MIMAROPA’s labor market centered on agriculture, fisheries, and ecotourism, aligning course offering with actual market performance and industry roadmap of the region under the program was also discussed to improve the program.

A significant portion of the meeting also focused on internal governance and the credibility of teacher qualifications. DepEd reported that the new guidelines establishing a national registry of recognized teacher education programs have been finalized, allowing the department to verify credentials submitted for hiring and promotion, issue advisories to field offices, and coordinate with oversight agencies to prevent the acceptance of unaccredited programs.

These measures, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Teacher Education Council (TEC), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), aim to shut down opportunities for “diploma mill” operations and safeguard promotion processes nationwide.

Meanwhile, DepEd said investigations on the supposed “items-for-sale” activities remain active and are being carried out under established procedures. Preventive measures are in place, and additional safeguards are being introduced to protect appointment and promotion processes.

Prior to the meeting, Sec. Angara also met with Palawan Governor Amy Alvarez and visited Palawan National School, the largest public school in Region IV-B, serving around 10,000 students under the Puerto Princesa City Schools Division Office.

The agency noted that actions taken in MIMAROPA form part of a broader national effort to strengthen learning recovery, improve system transparency, and professionalize the education workforce. Outputs from the MANCOM will feed into upcoming policy adjustments on resilient infrastructure, early-grade literacy, SHS alignment, and expanded career progression.

UP Alumnus Leads Digital Health Initiative for PH Marginalized Communities

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The ATIPAN Project aims to bring digital health to marginalized communities. 

Remote communities in the Philippines face challenges that hinder their access to quality healthcare services. In response, Dr. Romulo De Castro and his team implemented the ATIPAN Project, which aims to bring digital health to marginalized communities.

Drawing inspiration from the Hiligaynon word atipan—which means “to take care of”—and from the Ati communities Dr. De Castro’s team serves, the project was launched in 2021 to offer free teleconsultations, provide technology and training for health workers in partner indigenous people and rural low income communities in Western Visayas, as well as supply basic medication and health essentials.

The ATIPAN Project has received positive feedback from communities, who highlighted the benefits of telehealth in their area. While the long-term impacts of the project have yet to be fully assessed, there is already evidence of its potential to transform health care delivery in remote and under-resourced communities, primarily by improving local access to health services.

Currently funded by foreign agencies, the ongoing project looks forward to seeing its expansion plans and innovations come to fruition.

Dr. De Castro is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS), graduating with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He is now the Director of the Center for Informatics of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City.

Dr. De Castro was the resource speaker of the recent “Innovation Impact Stories: A Webinar Series on the Societal Impacts of Science Innovation” of UPD-CS’ Innovation Program held last October 15, 2025.

Innovation Impact Stories is a webinar series that explores how science, technology, and innovation drive real-world impact. This initiative highlights the journeys, challenges, and successes behind research-driven innovations that have made meaningful contributions across various fields. It aims to inform and inspire students, researchers, and faculty to foster a culture of purposeful and collaborative innovation that bridges academic theory with practical application.