Posted on by Information Officer

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology rolled out its solutions mapping in Mindoro between October 17-18, 2024 in time of Indigenous Peoples Month. Through the Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND) solutions mapping at selected Mangyan communities in Brgy. Naibusan, San Jose, Brgy. Panaytayan, Mansalay and Brgy. Libonan, Bongabong, Mindoro.

(Photo by RT Nobleza)

Dr. Randy T. Nobleza, Island Innovation Academic Council Representative from Marinduque State University took part as the Grassroots Innovation Technical Evaluation Committee (GITEC) whose expertise is invaluable to the initiative being part of the academe.

(Photo by RT Nobleza)

The Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND) project is a strategic initiative spearheaded by the DOST-XI in collaboration with DOST-MIMAROPA as a co-implementing agency. This project is designed to empower marginalized communities, and build their resilience by improving and deploying grassroots innovation (GIs).

The GRIND regional evaluation members met with their local counterparts facilitated by the Provincial Science and Technology in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Previously, they met virtually for the solutions mapping training via online platform last September 25 and October 14, 2024.

Grassroots innovations are either heirloom recipe/ heritage food, artisanal/ endangered crafts, ethnobotanicals, any innovations addressing health hazards, or circular economy. These would be identified, documented and archived through the saliklakbay solutions mapping. Saliklakbay is based on a form of rapid ethnographic research methodology called rapid immersion or rapid ethnography designed to identify and map grassroots innovations.

Some of the innovators that the GITEC members met in Occidental Mindoro are Ayse Dahas, Diding Pulido, Abeng Dahas and Ronnie Onilia. Among the indigenous innovations that were identified, cure for sore eyes, alternative to suka, snake venom antidote and sustainable dinnerware.

(RT Nobleza/Island Innovation Academic Council Representative)