MEDIA RELEASE VOL. 27 NO. 30

September 5, 2019

LBSC promotes SDGs through its 11th SyenSaya celebration

By: Rochelle Cruz, DOST-CALABARZON

Thousands of students, teachers, families, and community members once again flocked in

Baker Hall, UPLB last August 27-30 to witness the annual SyenSaya celebration organized

by the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSC).

Following the theme of 2019 National Science and Technology Week “Enabling

Technologies for a Sustainable Development”, this year’s Los Baños science festival

featured technologies by the LBSC member agencies contributing to the attainment of the

United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals

through its Wonderama exhibit.

The opening ceremony was graced by DOST Assistant Secretary for Finance Maridon O.

Sahagun, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon, LBSC President and UPLB

Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez Jr., and other agency heads of the member agencies.

One of the highlights of the program was the “Moving Forward for Science Tourism” where

For. Roberto P. Cereno, LBSC Tourism Committee Chairperson, presented the

accomplishments of the Science Tourism in Los Baños Project as well as the plans for the

following years. This project is through the combined efforts and support of LBSC, DOST-

CALABARZON, DOT IV-A, and DepEd IV-A. Also part of the program is the Turnover of

STARBOOKS to the six public schools in the municipality: Los Baños National High School-

Poblacion, Mayondon Elementary School, Laguna State Polytechnic University Los Baños-

College of Fisheries, Bayog Elementary School, Lopez Elementary School, and Paciano

Rizal Elementary School.

On its second day, a technology forum entitled “Ang Plastic Mo: Isang Talakayan Patungkol

sa Kalinisan ng Pamayanan” was conducted to encouraged discussion among

representatives from barangays, restaurants, private establishments, and households about

the Municipal Ordinance No. 2014-1316 or the Expanded Plastic Ordinance of the

Municipality of Los Baños. To give an overview about the ordinance, Dr. Antonio Alcantara

first gave updates on the status of implementation of the ordinance including the sanitation

efforts and technologies to support this. It was followed by the sharing of the best practices

of MENRO Putho Tuntungin and Baybayin in compliance to the said ordinace. Lastly, Ms.

Marilyn Apacionado of Laguna Lake Development Authority discussed about the sanitation

efforts in Laguna de Bay.

The winners of R&D Awards and Youth Science Awards (YSA) were recognized during the

Closing Ceremony on the last day of the event. University of the Philippines Los Baños and

International Rice Research Institute won the PARRFI Research and Development Award.

Meanwhile, this year’s YSA winners were from Cardona Senior High School, Calamba City

Science High School, Biñan Integrated National High School.