DOST-FPRDI’s 68th year highlights connection between people and forest

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BE treated to a sensory experience this July as the Department of Science and Technology- Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) marks its 68th anniversary with exciting activities for the public.

Themed “Rooted in Senses, Growing Innovations: A Celebration of Forest Products,” this year’s celebration highlights the Institute’s remarkable legacy of science-driven innovation and the deep connection between people and the forest.

68 YEARS OF INNOVATION Department of Science and Technology- Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) celebrates its 68th anniversary with exciting activities from June 30 to July 4. IMAGE FROM DOST-FPRDI

Among the activities is an exhibit on July 1, 2025 that will feature the innovative uses of pandan. A feast to the eyes, the Lalang Pandan exhibit will showcase unique and creatively designed handicrafts and furniture, and will highlight the ingenuity of local pandan weavers from Luisiana, Laguna. 

LOCAL CREATIONS A modern take on the traditional lampara, the 4-feet-tall chandelier Lalampara is among the many pandan displays at the Lalang Pandan exhibit at the DOST-FPRDI headquarters in Los Banos, Laguna on July 1. PHOTO FROM DOST-FPRDI

The Institute will open the doors of its Herbarium and Xylarium (Wood Library) also on July 1. A go-to place for archaeologists, foresters and students for their wood identification needs, DOST-FPRDI’s Xylarium boasts the most complete wood collection in the Philippines with 10,983 authentic specimens to date.

Meanwhile, the beautiful sound of bamboo will take center stage on July 2 as Institute experts discuss bamboo musical instruments. Through the “Guro, Kawayan at Musika” training, school teachers will have hands-on experience in making and playing bamboo xylophones and bamboo tubes. 

On July 3, guests will embark on a flavorful journey as DOST-FPRDI showcases the aroma and taste of products developed under its Flavors and Fragrances from the Forest Technology Program (F3TP). The event includes a tour of the F3TP laboratory, a discussion on essential oils, and a tasting of Institute-developed cinnamon tea, pastries and wine.

“We see forest products as drivers of economic growth and environmental protection. Innovations in furniture, flavors, music and handicrafts from forest products provide opportunities for our country to create an economy that is built to last,” says DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.  

“The milestone event being celebrated today displays our unwavering commitment to develop technologies that uplift communities, empower industries, engage in sustainable practices and honor the bounty of our forests,” Solidum adds.

The institute will also hold a conference on July 4 that will present scientific advancements in forest products research. 

Discussants are Mark Kennedy Bantugon, a James Dyson awardee and the inventor of the internationally recognized Pili Seal, an aviation sealant; Christian Salandanan of Sangay Architects, who will talk about the exciting applications of bamboo in housing and construction; and Ray Villanueva, co-founder of Kawayan Collective, a social enterprise awarded with a Presidential plaque during the MSME Development Week last year, and one of the companies assisted by DOST-FPRDI under its Tubò Technology Business Incubator Program.

“DOST-FPRDI’s 68th year honors the multisensory experiences inspired by forest products while highlighting the role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future,” DOST-FPRDI Director Rico Cabangon says. 

“We are excited to celebrate with our stakeholders and share the many opportunities forest products innovation could offer,” he concludes.

For 68 years, the DOST-FPRDI has been developing forest product technologies and initiatives aimed at providing science-based, innovative and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra “OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All.”

More information about DOST-FPRDI’s anniversary celebration will be posted at the Institute’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dostfprdi).