DOST-MIMAROPA Director Feted As 2019 Outstanding Mover of the Philippines

DOST-MIMAROPA director feted as 2019 Outstanding Mover of the Philippines

By: Charlotte F. Pizarras, DOST-MIMAROPA Regional Office

Dr. Ma. Josefina P. Abilay, Regional Director for DOST-MIMAROPA, was named as one of the Ten Outstanding Movers of the Philippines (TOMP) for leadership and public service at the Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace.

On behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu bestowed the award on February 28, 2019.

She was cited for her notable contributions to the socio-economic development of the region, particularly in the space of poverty alleviation and disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation.

In her acceptance speech, she attributed the award to her “equally passionate” DOST-MIMAROPA team and stressed the role and significance of harnessing science and technology to sustainable development.

“In my many years of service, I always instill in the community that the battle against poverty can be won with the help of science, technology, and innovation—that must put science at the heart of development,” said we Dr. Abilay.

Dr. Abilay is the first and incumbent regional director of DOST-MIMAROPA.

Under her leadership, DOST-MIMAROPA has been able to assist more than 400 firms and provide employment to more than 19,400 individuals in the region since 2008.

In addition to local firms, DOST-MIMAROPA, through the guidance of Dr. Abilay, has been nurturing community-based enterprises through various value-adding S&T interventions and skills development trainings.

Also among the several reasons that helped her covet the prestigious award is her hands-on approach in transforming the small community in Buenavista, Marinduque who had suffered from unstable power supply.

Putting a premium on disaster management response strategy, she spearheaded the installation of Solar Energy System (SES) for the fifteen (15) families from the most remote part of the said community and for a public elementary school in Brgy. Yook. Later on, the school managed to serve as the evacuation center during the onslaught of Typhoon Nina last 2016 as it was already equipped with lighting and ventilation for the afflicted residents.

Recognizing the efficacy of SES, the Department of Health-MIMAROPA (DOH-MIMAROPA) partnered with DOST-MIMAROPA to provide the facility to the town’s rural health unit and replicate the project in the entire region which led her to receive the 2017 BCYF Foundation Innovation Award.

Previously, she was also awarded the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Kalasag Award for her exemplary contribution in building community resilience.

Annually conferred by the Students’ Actions Vital to the Environment and Mother Earth (SAVE ME) Movement, TOMP seeks to inspire the prime movers from the different sectors of the society to proactively engage in the protection and preservation of the environment on personal and professional levels.

The award recognizes the selfless and exemplary contribution of Filipinos in the pursuit of making the world a safe and meaningful place to live in.