The Metals and Engineering Innovation Center (MEIC) at the Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas in Talisay City that opened Feb. 6 marked a significant milestone for the growing technological and industrial sectors, as well as research and development in Negros Occidental and the region.
The MEIC is a cutting-edge facility that will promote regional innovation, with focus on research and development, the Department of Science and Technology said Feb. 7, adding that the center serves as an extension of DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) by offering technical consultancy and industrial training.
It helps students, industries, and the surrounding community by providing prototyping and fabrication facilities, it added.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who attended the MEIC inauguration, said that Negros Occidental recognizes the vital role that research and development play in industrialization and regional growth.
“The MEIC is a testament to what we can achieve when government, industry, and the academe come together,” he said in a statement, adding the initiative is more than just advancing metals and engineering.
“It is about equipping our people, our skilled workers, engineers, and entrepreneurs, with the tools and knowledge they need to compete in an evolving global landscape,” Lacson said.
Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., meanwhile, said that “through the MEIC, we foster an environment where innovation and practical solutions can bring real and meaningful change to communities.”
Solidum stressed the importance of decentralizing government resources and allowing regions and provinces, like Negros Occidental, to play a critical role in building a more equitable innovation ecosystem.
“This is the vision that drives us at the Department of Science and Technology, to build a network of facilities that empower every region to fully leverage its potential,” he said in a statement. “Our aim is to create opportunities for every Filipino, regardless of background or location, to thrive in, and contribute to a dynamic metals and engineering sector.”
The event was also attended by DOST undersecretary Sancho Mabborang, DOST-MIRDC executive director Engr. Robert Dizon, DOST 7 director Engr. Jesus Zamora Jr., DOST 6 director Engr. Rowen Gelonga, who is also the concurrent DOST-NIR OIC director, TUP president Reynaldo Ramos, Central Philippines State University president Aladino Moraca, and other stakeholders. ||
