The Department of Science & Technology (DOST) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the project entitled “Support for ASEAN Participation to the 4^th International Technology Verification Forum (ETV) and International Working Group (IWG) on ETV Meeting.”  Said MOA signing was led by DOST Secretary DR. ESTRELLA F. ALABASTRO and ASEAN Foundation (AF) Executive Director DR. FILEMON A. URIARTE, JR.  

The project, through the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund (JASF) supported the participation of ASEAN delegates to the recently concluded (above-cited) event.  Said Forum and meeting provided a venue for exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences on issues relating to the implementation of an ETV Program and how it supports technology solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

A total of 170 participants from 15 countries attended the Forum, which highlighted the importance of ETV as a tool in accelerating deployment of environmentally-sound technologies.  The IWG meeting on the other hand, introduced to the participants how countries would benefit from mutual recognition of test protocols and results through harmonization of ETV programs.  The project likewise addresses the important mandates of the AF, which is to promote greater awareness about ASEAN, enhance greater interaction among its peoples and encourage wider participation in S&T activities to include capacity building and human resources development.

                For the implementation of this worthwhile project, the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), the premier R&D Institute of DOST has been tasked to conduct the ETV under the DENR-DOST AO 001 in 2006.  This Institute represents the ETV Philippines Program in the IWG on ETV together with representatives from USEPA, Canada and the EU.

                Sometime in April 2010, the Philippine ETV will hold the 1^st ASEAN ETV meeting with support from AF.  This is a follow through activity of the 4^th International ETV Forum with the goal of building alliances among ASEAN member countries in the development of internationally-accepted environmental performance verification approach. The meeting is aimed at establishing an ASEAN Working Group on ETV and eventually identify initiatives and collaboration efforts to address common environmental problems in the Region.