BACOLOD CITY – A groundbreaking PHP4.9 million aerogel research facility was inaugurated at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) on Thursday afternoon, marking a significant advancement for the sugar industry in Negros Occidental. The Center of Aerogel Technology for Energy and Environment (CATEE), funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is the first of its kind in the province and aims to harness the potential of aerogels to enhance sustainability and environmental efforts in Western Visayas.
Dr. Mary Ann Torres Pandan, the project leader of CATEE and a professor at USLS, emphasized the importance of advanced materials like nanomaterials and aerogels in addressing environmental challenges. She stated that these materials could play a crucial role in environmental remediation and resource recovery, directly benefiting the sugar industry in Negros Occidental, which is the top sugar-producing province in the Philippines, contributing 60 percent of the country’s sugar output.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. expressed his support for the initiative, highlighting the potential of advanced materials to position the Philippines as a competitive player in the global market. The state-of-the-art laboratory, established through the DOST’s Institution Development Program, is set to drive innovation and research in advanced materials, promising a brighter future for the sugar industry and the broader scientific community in the region.