PRSP President Ana Pista called for stronger ethical standards in science and innovation communications during the 39th anniversary celebration of DOST-TAPI, emphasizing that responsible storytelling must keep pace with the rapid expansion of emerging technologies and grassroots innovations.
Speaking at the anniversary event held Jan. 30 at The Manila Hotel, Ana Pista underscored the evolving role of public relations in shaping how government-backed technologies are understood by the public.
Her remarks were delivered during the awarding ceremony of Gawad Alunig x Dalumat 2025, a nationwide campaign recognizing Filipino creatives who translate grassroots innovation stories into visual narratives.
“Public relations is no longer just about telling stories; it is about stewarding them with integrity, purpose, and responsibility to ensure that government programs truly resonate with the communities they are meant to serve,” Pista said.
Communication as governance, not branding
Addressing innovators, creatives, and government officials, PRSP President Ana Pista framed ethical communication as a governance issue rather than a branding exercise.
As emerging technologies increasingly move from laboratories to public platforms, the tools used to promote them have also shifted. DOST-TAPI’s Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) 2025 marked a strategic transition from science citizen journalism to science visual storytelling, leveraging short-form video advertisements and photo essays to connect locally developed technologies with wider audiences.
The campaign drew nearly 200 submissions from creatives nationwide. After verification and quality auditing, organizers selected five grand finalists each for Gawad Alunig and Gawad Dalumat from 70 and 93 total submissions, respectively.
The entries covered innovations across agriculture, renewable energy, environmental monitoring, disaster resilience, and community-based technologies — sectors where public understanding and trust are central to adoption.
In this environment, simplifying complex technologies for broader audiences must not lead to overstatement, omission of risks, or misrepresentation of development stages.
DOST-TAPI at 39: Balancing promotion and accountability
DOST-TAPI, established under Executive Order No. 128 in 1987, is tasked with promoting technology commercialization and innovation support services within the Department of Science and Technology structure.
As the agency marked its 39th year, the anniversary celebration doubled as the culmination of GAxD 2025. The campaign drew nearly 200 submissions from Filipino creatives nationwide. After verification and quality auditing, five grand finalists each were selected for Gawad Alunig and Gawad Dalumat from 70 and 93 total submissions, respectively.
Beyond recognition, GAxD 2025 also served as a platform for DOST-TAPI to identify potential technology proponents who may qualify for its programs and services
This dual role—promotion and pipeline-building—places DOST-TAPI at a crossroads between communication strategy and public accountability. As technologies move from laboratories to commercialization pathways, the narratives surrounding them can influence investor interest, regulatory scrutiny, and community acceptance.
Setting Communication Standards for Emerging Technologies
The call from PRSP President Ana Pista comes amid accelerating digital transformation across government and industry. As agencies adopt visual storytelling, short-form video campaigns, and advertising-driven formats to promote innovation, the boundary between public information and persuasive messaging can blur.
Her remarks place ethical storytelling within a broader governance framework. Clear attribution of data, transparent representation of technology readiness, and measured language around outcomes are not just communications choices — they are credibility safeguards.
For grassroots innovations in particular, responsible communication protects both inventors and communities. It ensures expectations align with actual capabilities and reduces reputational risks that can arise from overstatement.
In an environment shaped by rapid digital amplification and public scrutiny, maintaining trust may be as critical to innovation adoption as the technology itself.
Advertising, standards, and public trust
Roberto A. Aligada, executive director of the Ad Standards Council, echoed the importance of responsible communication during the ceremony.
“Science provides the numbers, but communication provides the soul, when creativity and innovation work together with responsibility and truth, advertising can become a catalyst that changes lives,” Aligada said.
His remarks highlighted the intersection of scientific precision and persuasive storytelling. As public sector innovation campaigns increasingly rely on digital-first formats, maintaining clear standards becomes central to sustaining credibility.
A forward-looking message
As DOST-TAPI advances its commercialization mandate and embraces modern storytelling formats, Ana Pista’s remarks positioned ethics as foundational rather than optional.
The 39th anniversary celebration underscored how communication now forms part of the innovation lifecycle. From early-stage development to public adoption, the integrity of narratives may shape whether technologies gain sustained trust.
In a digital landscape where information spreads instantly and scrutiny is constant, responsible storytelling may prove to be one of the most enduring pillars of Philippine science and technology promotion.
