Bohol to host foreign scientists, dignitaries for int’l conferences

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct 14 (PIA)—Bohol would be hosting two international events beginning this week and the next as the scientists and policy makers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee on Science Technology and Innovations (COSTI) meets at the Bellevue Hotel beginning today until October 20.

The ASEAN COSTI is responsible for all aspects of ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation cooperation and integration as outlined in the various science, technology and innovation developments and plans of action of ASEAN, simplifies Bohol Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Director Vina Antopina.

And then, on November 7-10, delegates for the 30th Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum would pour into Hennan Resort in Alona, for the APLMF Forum and Working Group Meetings.

​The meetings would be hosted by the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines.

Metrology, is the scientific study of measurement and establishes a common understanding of units, crucial in linking human activities, Antopina explains.

Speaking during the recent Kapihan sa PIA aired live over the Philippine Information Agency’s youtube channel and facebook page, Antopina said COSTI brings to Bohol ASEAN members of the Committees 11 sub-committees for conferences, breakout sessions, plenary and dialogues.

Established as a committee in 1978, COSTI put up its Board of Advisers and finalized it in 2015, to advise COSTI on the development and implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025 and ASEAN Innovation Roadmap 2019-2025.

It also sees the management and utilization of the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (ASTIF), the utilization of other possible fundings from dialogue partners, sectoral partners, developmental partners, industry/private sectors and international organizations and any other matters assigned by COSTI.

Expected to arrive here starting yesterday October 14 are officials to the level of undersecretaries from each of the ASEAN countries, and ministers who would be joining the events, she said.

The COSTI sub-committees include Sub-Committee on Biotechnology (SCB), Sub-Committee on Food Science and Technology (SCFST), Sub-Committee on Marine Science and Technology (SCMSAT), Sub-Committee on Materials Science and Technology (SCMST), Experts Group on Metrology (under SCIRD’s purview), Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics (SCMG), Sub-Committee on Microelectronics and Information Technology (SCMIT), Sub-Committee on S&T Infrastructure and Resources Development (SCIRD), Sub-Committee on Space Technology and Applications (SCOSA) and the Sub-Committee on Sustainable Energy Research (SCSER).

On the other hand, APLMF would be bringing a much larger and more diversified number of foreign dignitaries for their meetings, a number of topics including the annual reports from the APLMF Working Groups, APLMF President and Secretariat, planning APLMF future activities.

Cooperation among APLMF, international and regional metrology organizations will also be addressed. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)