Board Member Sanchez Lauds DOST Support to Local Inventors

Mandaue City- Cebu Provincial Board Member Griselda Sanchez lauds the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for its efforts in supporting the growth of local inventors.

“You know DOST Region 7 has greatly contributed to what I am today, I’m a living proof of DOST’s support to local scientists and innovators…” the lady board member revealed during her message at the start of the 2014 Visayas Cluster Regional Cluster Fair in J Center Square, Mandaue City, Cebu on 2 October.

“I take pride in saying that I have been a beneficiary for accelerated, transfer, and commercialization of innovative technologies,” she explained.

Her message is in connection with the on-going Science and Technology (S&T) fair in the Visayas region where DOST showcased the latest developments in the local S&T.

Prior to her current political seat at the Cebu province, Sanchez was a researcher and headed the Lacto Bacillus Pafi Techno Resources Corporation.

She joined DOST’s invention contest in 2010 for her wound dressing Paficare and won in the regional level. On the following year, she joined in another DOST program for accelerated technology development called Filipinnovation for her agricultural product called Antica, a pest and fungal control product. It won the top prize.

Sanchez added that DOST opened many opportunities for her innovations after she won said prize. Particularly, she earned a research grant that helped improve and widen the use of her agricultural products.

Her invention also won in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ambassador Alfredo Yao Intellectual Property Awards for the same invention.

Agencies such as the Bureau of Agricultural Research took notice of her products and further helped her develop her products.

DOST through its Technology Application and Promotions Institute supports local inventors through the Republic Act No. 7459, also known as the Inventors and Invention Incentives Act which “the Government shall provide a program to set up a climate conducive to invention and innovation, give encouragement and support to inventors.”

Under the RA 7459, inventors could avail of the following support: intellectual property rights assistance program to assist inventors in filing patents and similar IP rights; prototype development, testing assistance, pilot plant assistance, promotion and publication, National Invention Contest and Exhibits, tax/duty exemption assistance, invention guarantee fund, travel assistance, training, and Inventschool to encourage the spirit of inventiveness and creativity among secondary students. (S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

Source: PCOO, www.dost.gov.ph