GMA decision to reappoint Alabastro hailed

A group of science communicators has lauded President Arroyo’s reappointment of Dr. Estrella Alabastro as secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

"We consider your reappointment as steward of the Department of Science and Technology as a positive move to sustain the progressive developments going on in the S&T sector since your leadership started in 2001," journalist Angelo Palmones said in a congratulatory letter to Alabastro.

Palmones assured Alabastro of "our continuing support for the programs and projects of the government, specifically in S&T promotion and the development of science culture among our people."

Palmones, of dzMM ABS-CBN, is president of the Philippine Science Journalists Association Inc. (PSciJourn), a national association of S&T media (print, broadcast and cyber) practitioners, communicators and information officers and writers of S&T institutions and agencies, and advocates of a science-oriented culture among Filipinos.

PSciJourn was organized in 2001 to promote wider public awareness, understanding and appreciation of science and technology through vigorous and comprehensive information dissemination in partnership with the DOST and other related agencies.

Alabastro was appointed DOST secretary on March 12, 2001. She earlier had served as DOST undersecretary for research and development since July 1995.

She was the executive director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Energy Research and Development from July 1991 to January 1995.

She is currently a professorial lecturer at the College of Home Economics and Technology Management Center of the University of the Philippines (UP).

As DOST secretary, Alabastro conceived DOST’s flagship program, the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), anchored on President Arroyo’s economic development agenda.

Launched in mid-2002, SETUP has assisted 256 development projects and farmed out P106 million in financial assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) nationwide.