With funding from the Department of Science and Technology , the University of St. La Salle here hosts a research center dedicated to the development of advanced materials that could benefit the sugar industry in Negros Occidental. On Thursday afternoon, the PHP4.9 million Center of Aerogel Technology for Energy and Environment was inaugurated as the first-of-its-kind facility in the province.
” “Advanced materials can enhance sustainability in the province by integrating them into environmental remediation and resource recovery, which could benefit Negros Occidental’s sugar industry,” she added. As the Philippines’ top sugar-producing province, Negros Occidental contributes 60 percent to the country's sugar output. In a statement, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said that “exploring the potential of advanced materials is a promising development for the scientific community.