ORAL INVESTIGATION

Being on the forefront of propagating the technologies to the public, the

Technological Services Development is the institution responsible for the

technological innovations produced by the research and development sectors to be

introduced to the public, students, scientists and investors. The agency is under the

Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and

Technology. Having similar objectives with the proposal, their programs and needs

are vital for determining the feasibility of the proposed development.

The interviewee, Ms. Nelia Elisa Florendo, is the Officer-in-Charge of the

Technological Services Development. The interview was conducted on August 25,

2010 in Technological Services Development Center of the Department of Science

and Technology (DOST). The following is the dialogue between the proponent and

the interviewee.

Q: What is the status of the Science industry nowadays?

A: Our country can’t keep it up with other developing countries when it comes to

technology and innovation. What our country really needs is budget allotment for

research and awareness which will inculcate Filipinos that discoveries and

innovations can boost our country’s economy.

Q: Do you think that the hindrance behind innovations is that the facilities in the

field of research are lacking in our country?

A: Yes. But we can’t do anything about it because our economy is down compared

to the other countries. Even our audio-visual equipments here in DOST are deficient

and we can’t replace them, what more of our research equipments here. And since
we are lacking budget and funding, we have to conform our innovations just to the

immediate needs of our nation. As of the moment, we are in focus of technologies

which will especially trigger and help Filipino livelihood and industry.

Q: Are there any problems that are needed to be solved, specifically in DOST?

A: I think our Research and Development (R&D) sectors are doing their job pretty

well. Even if we’re lacking advance and state-of-the-art equipments, we are still

able to help advance the Philippine industry. But we are having difficulties in

emanating the technologies in the country. First and foremost, we are having

trouble in gaining investors for our innovations. We tried to go to various malls,

museums, pavilions and hotels both in rural and urban areas to promote our

inventions, but sadly there were only few entrepreneurs who enthusiastically

involve themselves. It is hard to convince that we are selling the “technology” not

the “product”. So the promotion awareness and knowledge about these new know-

how’s are even lacking. Second, the public think that our vocational courses are

free, where in fact they also have to pay some for the facilitation of the program

also. That’s why only few can only end-up finishing our training programs.