RWANDA also had it rough. Hopeful as it is pursuing for development, this one of Africa’s smallest countries may still be remembered by some of us having had a dark history of civil unrest that resulted to the deaths of millions of innocent people in the 90s, destroyed communities, and displaced families.
After three years of in-fighting, and peace accords were signed, rehabilitation began, not only on the fronts of physically building new houses and socially giving its people all the support needed, but there was a need to shift political paradigms especially in governance. But for this small country, rebuilding not only means addressing what is urgent, but also planning ahead for the future - with the help of science and technology.
Rwanda’s former minister of science and technology, Romain Merunzi, recalled how has science and technology contributed to reshaping the new direction for their country after the civil war. In 2014, he wrote in The Guardian, that the country is proof that “even the poorest nations, faced with the most profound challenges, can build a future based on science.”
“But without strong partners and good friends, this would not be possible,” he added. Being the minister from 2001 to 2009, he emphasized that Rwanda’s government leaders recognized early on that education which includes science education, was an important aspect in recovery from civil war.
He narrated that with the election of Paul Kagame as Rwanda’s president in 2000, the country went through a development path focused on science, technology and innovation, especially focusing on information and communications technology (ICT). He also explained how the country started a systematic approach to science-based recovery and development, something that remains a struggle for “least” developing countries.
“Throughout this process, Rwanda worked in close partnership with the scientific and development sectors of other nations and international organizations. But these relationships did not follow the old model of dependence; rather, Rwanda set goals to address its needs, and worked with partners who supported the nation in its efforts,” Merunzi said.
Marawi City may not share the same historical context since it was clear that the destruction of the place was due to terrorism, but nonetheless we see the same patterns: people dying, fleeing, and the destruction of buildings and houses as two forces had to exchange firepower.
Now that the conflict has ended (we can only hope it will never happen again), rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts from the government and non-government organizations are now on its way. Not only the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, but other regional agencies from Region 9, 10, and 12 are working together to deliver services as fast as it can.
It may not be immediate for now, but it would be a better reference if our government consider the science and technology component similar to the Rwanda model. Surely, as there are a lot of inventions and scientific creative works made by seasoned scientists and even budding students, there will always be many creations and innovations that can be applied in the rehabilitation for Marawi, given that these are sensitive to the traditions and religious practices of the Meranaw people.
Professor Joey Ocon, one of the promising and young scientists who currently teaches and do researches at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Department of Chemical Engineering, shared that there can be possible scientific works that will aid Marawi in it recovery phase.
Born in Davao, grew up in Tagum City, and once a schoolmate, he suggested that the use of solar PV-battery-diesel microgrids for supplying energy can be used in Marawi for the mean time, especially if the power lines from local sources will take some time. Another interesting take was the decentralized water treatment technologies for supplying household and potable water.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Northern Mindanao, through its regional director Alfonso Alamban and regional communication staff, Hyacinth Tagupa, gave insights on how can the agency help rebuilding Marawi in some of their existing programs.
First, the DOST scholarship program for college students, then, the Small Entetrprise Technology Uprgrading Program (SETUP), that provides technical assistance from training to procurement of necessary equipment for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This can be very helpful especially that the Meranaw people are known to be diligent entrepreneurs.
There was a new program in the agency and currently on its early phases, it is called the Community Empowerment Through Science and Technology (CEST). The program aims to address poverty by empowering the marginalized segments of society through science and technology that can be applied on six identified streams: economic development, health and nutrition, human resource development, environmental protection and conservation, disaster risk reduction and management and climate change, and governance.
A look at it, this was quite generic, but perhaps these mechanisms can be more meaningful if these programs are to be aligned in the Marawi context.
Again, we yearn that as we pick up the pieces of ruins from the recent tragedy of human conflict transpired in the Philippine’s Islamic City, we introspect on not only helping the Meranaw people regain their homes and lives, but also witness the Filipino innovations in science and technology that can contribute to the rebuilding and rehabilitating.
But, for Prof. Ocon, the urgency of it all:
“The most serious issue is how to accelerate the procurement process to disburse the billions of pesos of rebuilding funds in Marawi, knowing how slow the government bureaucracy is, not to mention the possible corruption of the funds.”
(nefluczon@gmail.com)
