CA panel approves Solidum as DOST secretary

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday scored the approval of a Commission on Appointments (CA) panel.

Solidum, a career government official, appointed to the DOST by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in August 2022.

During the hearing of the CA Committee on Science on Technology, Solidum was asked by Camiguin Representative Jurdin Jesus Romualdo if rocket materials that can withhold heat can be used to make a hole in a volcano where lava could pass so an eruption could be prevented.

Romualdo said he asked the question "out of curiousity."

Solidum, in response, said nobody has attempted to do such a thing as it would be risky. "A volcano will erupt if there is too much pressure and high temperature," he said.

Lessening the pressure, he added, might cause the volcano to erupt.

"So if we lessen the pressure of the volcano on top, it might trigger the sudden rise of magma, it will explode," Solidum said.

Prior to his appointment, Solidum served as a DOST Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA), and Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services.

Solidum graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of the Philippines, finished a Masters degree in Geological Sciences from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D in Earth Sciences from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography from the University of California.

Solidum in August said his leadership will focus on job creation, research and development, food security and resiliency, health, and human resource development.

“Together with my colleagues, we will push with the socioeconomic agenda of the President so that the mission of DOST to provide maximum economic and social benefit to the Filipinos will be realized,” Solidum said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News