Davao City eyes invention and innovation center
DAVAO CITY, Nov 15 (PIA)- A Sangguniang Panglungsod (city council) ordinance is in the works which will establish a Davao City Inventions and Innovations Center.
The proposed ordinance authored by City Councilor Pilar Braga aims to create a venue for Davao inventors and innovators to come together so that their inventions and innovations can be fully developed, promoted, exhibited and accepted for the purpose of patenting and marketing of innovative products and services.
“It will be a big success for Davao City if this center will be established, because here in Davao we have one of the best inventors and innovators. This is the time we develop the local, indigenous innovative and creative ideas,” Ver Sangutan, president of the Davao Inventors Association said.
In the proposed ordinance, the Davao City Inventions and Innovations Center will function as a “startup enabler” which will provide technical expertise in the areas of prototype building, feasibility and financial analysis, drafting of project proposals for funding and intellectual property rights patent applications.
“This will help the economy and bring more employment, “Sangutan said.
“Davao City currently has around 30 active inventors some of whom have factories manufacturing and distributing their inventions,” Sangutan bared.
The proposed ordinance will be setting up a Davao City Inventions and Innovations Council chaired by the City Mayor and a representative from the Davao Inventors Association as the vice-chair.
The resolution to enact the ordinance cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s landmark laws on scientific research and innovation particularly the Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act and RA 1137 also known as the The Innovative Start Up Act.”
The proposed ordinance will maximize the current research facilities found in Davao City such as those from the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Information and Communications Technology and the three business incubators located in University of the Philippines-Mindanao, University of Mindanao and University of Southeastern Philippines.
Other facilities located in Davao which contribute to research and development include the satellite facility of the Philippine Genome Center in UP-Mindanao, and the Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center which is a project of the DOST and the Ateneo de Davao University.
Among the objectives of the proposed ordinance include assisting indigenous peoples with their indigenous knowledge and innovations particularly in agriculture and herbal medicines. (PIA/RG Alama)