MANILA – Nanumpa na bilang bagong direktor ng Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) si Dr. Franz de Leon matapos i-appoint ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Ang ASTI ay isa sa mga attached-agency sa ilalim ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“Mandated to undertake research and development activities aimed at strengthening and modernizing Information and Communications Technology and microelectronics. The DOST – ASTI continues to dedicate itself to delivering technology solutions in support of a productive and resilient Filipino society,” batay sa website ng ahensya.
Dating faculty ng University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Engineering si Dr. De Leon, na nagtapos ng kursong BS Electronics and Communications Engineering sa parehong unibersidad.
Mayroon ding graduate degree na MS in Electrical Engineering ang newly-appointed DOST-ASTI director mula sa UP Diliman.
“He earned his Ph.D. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom in 2014,” ayon kay DOST Sec. Fortunato de la Pena.
Minsan na raw naging bahagi ng isang “collaborative project” ng DOST-ASTI at UP Diliman Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute si Dr. De Leon.
“With interests in Digital Signal Processing for Audio and Communications… (he was involved) as the project leader for the Development of a Philippine Indigenous Instrument Sounds Database, also known as KATUNOG (KAlipunan ng KaTUtubong TuNOG).”
Nangako si Dr. De Leon na gagamitin niya ang kanyang posisyon para maisulong ang mga bagong inisyatibo na magpapalakas sa industriya ng information and communications technology (ICT), microelectronics at space technology.
Isa ang DOST-ASTI sa mga nasa likod ng scholarship ng tatlong Pilipinong student engineers na nag-disenyo sa Maya-2, ang ikaapat na space satellite na gawang Pilipino.
“He vowed to continue to work closely with DOST-ASTI’s stakeholders to meet their expectations and to invest not only in upgrading the facilities but more importantly, in human resource development to make them more agile and ready for the next-generation technologies,” ani Sec. Dela Pena.
