DOST pushes for a national measurement institute in Congress

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is pushing for the establishment of the National Measurement Institute to ensure the quality of Filipino products for international markets.

During the launching of the Propel Business Hub and Exhibit Center in Taguig City, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said Filipino products shipped abroad must also meet the importing country’s standards.

“We also need to establish the National Measurement Institute for us to have the testing and calibration facility that will ensure that our products are of good quality to be competitive not only within the country but also abroad,” Solidum said.

“While you are actually developing, you must also be testing simultaneously. Hindi puwedeng gumawa ka ng produkto. Inayos mo lahat, tapos pipapatest mo. Lugi ka pag hindi maganda. And that is why we need to have a national quality infrastructure as a policy,” he added.

(While you are developing, you should also be testing. You can’t just create a product, finalize everything, and only then have it tested. You’ll lose out if the results aren’t good. That’s why we need a national quality infrastructure as a policy.)

A National Measurement Institute is a government body responsible for the country’s metrology infrastructure, ensuring the quality and global competitiveness of products and services.

According to its website, seven measures have been filed before the House of Representatives to establish the National Measurement Institute, all of which are pending before the House Committee on Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, no proposed measures to establish the National Measurement Institute have been filed at the Senate.

On Tuesday, DOST launched the PROPEL Business Hub and Exhibit Center, a platform for startups, innovators, researchers, and industry partners to showcase their innovations, learning, and public awareness through the PROPEL program.

The program provides interactive training, mentorship, and resources to equip participants with business skills and help them scale innovations and bring products to market. —VAL, GMA News