The recent commemoration of the 10th year anniversary of the Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte last November 8 also paved the way for innovations to be displayed during the Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Exposition Visayas Leg at Summit Hotel, Tacloban City last November 8-10.
Among the notable exhibitors were that of “Pack of Duty” of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The innovation showcases a series of ready to eat meals from mixed vegetables, beef curry and hard-boiled chicken egg. The quality of its packaging can be likened to that of military ration packs.
Given the regular typhoons and natural calamities that occur in Eastern Visayas as well as the considerable damage they inflict on many communities, the said innovation had the potential to replace the traditional repacked goods that are being distributed to affected families. Compared to the usual repacked rice, canned goods and noodles packed in a thin cellophane, the said packaging is more secure, convenient and with lesser risk of being damaged by water.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said that despite the availability of the technology, the challenge now is to convince the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Local Government Units (LGU) to adapt the said innovation.
“The technologies are available, but may chicken and egg issue dyan. To scale up the production we need the private sector. Pag na scale up yan mas magiging mura yan pero para ma scale up yan at may mag invest dapat yung LGUs would say that ‘we need this much.’ Yun yung dapat ma match,” Solidum told OpinYon 8.
The official added that the assurance and the expectation that the technology would be used for relief operations are also necessary. However, Solidum noted that there are already talks of potential investors of said packaging innovation.
In Region 8, DOST Regional Director Ernesto Granada shared that there is already a potential investor looking into the possibility of adapting it.
“In the province of Leyte we have the Mayong’s. Sila yung private firm na interested in adapting our technologies.” Granada said.
DOST Leyte also shared that they are already meeting with the DSWD for the market and commercialization of the said technologies.
At present, Secretary Solidum noted that the current challenge for them is to create the demand in order to upscale the innovations that are currently costly compared to what is currently available.
#OpinYon8 #OY8 #ReliefPacks #Haiyan #Yolanda #Leyte #Innovations #PackOfDuty #DOST #DSWD #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand