DOST Sec de la Pena graced the formal opening of Eastern Visayas Centrum
PALO, Leyte- An interactive science museum based here was formally opened with the hope that it would pave the way for this town to be known as a ‘science municipality.’
The facility, located at the second floor of the Leyte Academic Center (LAC), is a joint project of the provincial government and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
DOST Sec. Fortunato de la Peña, who graced the event, said that the establishment of the science centrum in Leyte will not only benefit children but even adults because of the problem of science literary in the country.
“Having a science centrum here is a good way to introduce children to science and this allows them to have interaction,” he said, adding that the facility in Leyte is the fifth science centrum in the country.
The secretary said that the facility will also lead to making the municipality not only as a science town but also an additional attraction that will increase tourist arrivals.
Featured at the science centrum are “gravity well”, “feel the shake”, “head on a platter”, “pendulum wave”, “pedal power”, trash timeline, plasma sphere, magic faucet, zoetrope, hazer harp, moving faces, among others.
Science books that students may read are also on display.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said that he is optimistic that the facility will truly serve its purposes-both for science-related information and as a tourist attraction.
“Once we start promoting this to other provinces, people will be coming here, especially students. Not only from Eastern Visayas but even from other regions as well that does not have this kind of facility yet,” he said.
Karina Rosa Tiopes, the regional director of the Department of Tourism, agreed with Gov. Petilla’s observation saying that a “knowledge tour” can be offered by the municipal government not only at the science centrum but may also include the solar farm facility in the town for students and even tourists.
“Palo has 4Ps tourism program, maybe we can add another P which is Pag-aram,” Tiopes said.
While the science centrum is temporarily housed at the LAC, former Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla said that they are planning to construct a building that is going to be a permanent home of the exhibit.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
