DOST chief clueless on replacement

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Estrella Alabastro yesterday said she has no idea who will take over post that she will vacate.

“It seems that they have forgotten about our humble department,” said Alabastro in her last press conference as DOST chief.

She said she has been anticipating the announcement of her replacement so that there could be a briefing about the department and introduction to the “main players of the DOST” before she leaves on June 30.

However, four days before the new administration takes over, she does not even have any idea who will inherit her post.

Alabastro also said that the plan of the incoming administration of president-elect Benigno Aquino III to release all the names of the new Cabinet secretaries on June 29 is “too late.” 

“The announcement is okay if the incoming secretary will come from the department. But if it is an outsider then there will be no time to brief him or her because June 30 is a holiday and by July 1 I am out of office already,” she said.

Alabastro was appointed by President Arroyo as DOST secretary in 2001 and was the first lady chief of the country’s science and technology agency.

If there is one legacy she wants to be remembered for, she said it would be the dramatic upgrading of the country’s weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“Upgrading of Pagasa is the best legacy which we could say we have achieved,” she said.

Alabastro said she was able to upgrade Pagasa’s facilities and resuscitate its old radars. They were also able to buy five Doppler radars that are essential since the country is so prone to typhoons.

Three of these radars are already in the country, while the two others are expected to arrive in September.

Jatropha plant launched

Aside from Pagasa’s radars, Alabastro said she was also “happy” that before she left DOST they were able to open up the country’s first jatropha processing and analytical testing facility, which was launched yesterday.

She said the new plant is essential in developing alternative fuels to lessen carbon emission in the country in the coming years.

Ret. Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, who heads the state-run Philippine National Oil Co.-Alternative Fuels Corp., was also present at the event and called for more government support to intensify the country’s jatropha planting.

“The job of the government is to ensure that the jatropha business is healthy,” he said. “If the jatropha technology becomes successful, Filipinos in the near future would be saved from illness that will come from too much carbon emission.”

Alabastro also said the capabilities of the agency’s human resources department have been given much attention.

She called on the incoming administration to give attention to the empowerment and development of DOST employees, adding that upgrading human resource and facilities must come together as they are “twin requirements” which will enable the country to compete with its neighbors.

“Continue developing our people to the fullest,” she said.

Meanwhile, Alabastro admitted that the department’s budget in the last nine years was not sufficient, but she stressed that what is important for a leader was to know how to utilize the money she has on hand.

She said the DOST has acquired P4 billion in grants from neighboring countries like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

“If these countries see that the money is going to the programs and that they will also benefit from it, they will be interested and willing to partner with us,” she said.