TECHNOLOGY trainings, and an automated mass transport system are among the Smarter Philippines projects the government has undertaken to improve the Filipinos chances of getting employment in the fields of science and technology.
The projects include an Electronics Product Development Center (EPDC), the automated guided transport system in UP Diliman, and new technology trainings in three major sectors in the metals and engineering industry, said Dr. Alexander Madrigal, Department of Science and Technology director of Region IV-A.
Madrigal updated participants of the Information Communication Technology/Business Process Management (ICT/BPM) Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu last Monday about the Smarter Philippines programs, which was launched last year.
Madrigal said Smarter Philippines programs have six core areas of the program which are smarter economy, smarter environment, smarter mobility, smarter living and smarter people.
He said the EPDC focuses on teaching Filipinos on electronic design, assembling, and manufacturing.
He said at least three organizations are benefiting from these programs namely the Philippine Die and Mold Association Inc., the Metalworking Industries Association of the Philippines and the Electronics Industries Association of the Philippines Inc.
Madrigal said the Automated Guided Transport System (AGT) for faster and smarter mobility is a pilot project in UP Diliman.
AGT is a fully-automated driverless electricity-run monorail. It is entirely Filipino-made, at 1/5 of prevailing costs. It is also an electricity-run mass transport system which helps mitigate the effects of climate change./SU Intern DM Lorean V. Narciso