NAST PHL pushes for a National Measurement Institute to protect consumers and exports
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TAGUIG CITY - The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL) has called on the government to make the establishment of a National Measurement Institute a national priority. The country's weak measurement system results in Filipino consumers getting less than what they pay for, and exporters spending more to have their products tested.
Measurement tells us whether the rice we buy is the weight marked on the sack, whether the hazardous substances in a product and in the environment stay within safe limits, and whether a factory's output meets the specifications a buyer paid for.
Philippine Seaweeds and Fishery By-Products are Raw Materials for Locally Made Bioplastics
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TAGUIG CITY – The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL) is urging government and industry to support the local production of bioplastics from seaweeds and fishery by-products, which it identifies as practical substitutes for petroleum-based single use plastics.
The call is contained in the NAST PHL Science Advisory 2026 No. 1, “Development of Bioplastics from Marine Sources in the Philippines: Status Challenges, RD&I, and Policy Needs,” prepared by Academicians Ernesto J. del Rosario, Marco Nemesio E. Montaño, and Alvin B. Culaba.
NAST PHL Drives Discussion on Genomics and Precision Medicine in the Philippines
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MANILA CITY – Advancing the efforts towards improved healthcare initiatives in the country, the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) conducted a roundtable discussion (RTD) on the establishment of local genomic infrastructure for clinical adoption on 15 June 2026. The activity was led by the NAST PHL Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Applications of Advanced Technology in the Delivery of Health Care Services under the Special Concerns Program (SCP).
With the concerns surrounding the limited local genomic testing capacity and high reliance on international testing services in the Philippines, the RTD focused on the following key discussion points: (1) mapping and assessment of existing resources such as facilities, data assets, and human resources, (2) defining of the roles of central expert centers and regional health facilities, and (3) expansion of local capacity and improvement of referral pathways.