LAGAWE, Ifugao – In line with the thrust to enhance the competitive advantage of metals and engineering industries in the Cordillera, the Department of Science and Technology through its Metals Industry Research and Development Center, DOST-Cordillera, and Ifugao State University (IFSU) established the region’s first Metals and Engineering Innovation Center (MEIC), the groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 16.
In her message, DOST-Cordillera Director Nancy Bantog said the MEIC is a mechanism to bring science, technology, and innovation to the countryside.
“This will serve as a platform for technology generation and transfer and technical competency development, enabling us to be more responsive to the needs of the industries in the province and the region.”
She said the MEIC provides solutions to the machinery and product prototyping of priority agricultural implements and processing equipment.
“With the MEIC, we can shorten the turnaround time of the production of customized prototypes and ensure fabrication or after-sales services.”
The project will likewise aid in the conduct of research and development to develop and strengthen the capability of the human resources of the academe while providing the machine prototyping needs of the industry.
IFSU, having a strong curriculum in engineering, will host the center at their Lagawe campus where the DOST shall provide P5.7 million worth of fabrication equipment and auto machines (including metal sheet and electric shear, welding machine, electric hoist, plasma cutter and sheet metal roller). As their counterpart, the university allotted P1.5M for the improvement of the center.
In 2018, DOST-Cordillera has implemented a project with IFSU to jumpstart the university’s capability in metals fabrication through the provision of about P1.3M worth of basic machineries and equipment.
It also recommended IFSU as the innovation center for the Cordillera, which led to further coordination with MIRDC to ultimately establish the MEIC-Cordillera in the province.
In December 2020, officials of DOST-Cordillera, MIRDC, and IFSU held the virtual soft launching and memorandum of agreement signing of the project. The same center will also be established in regions 1, 2, 3, and 10.
DOST-Cordillera will continue to work together with MSMEs, academe, line agencies, and other metal industry players to enhance product development, fabrication, and manufacturing as productive economic activities in the countryside to the benefit of the people of the Cordillera. – Press release
