Dipolog science centrum brings hands-on learning closer to Zamboanga students

• DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito C. Bacolcol lends energy to the “Pedal-Powered Generator,” giving electricity to light up LED strips as he pedals. (Contributed photo)

Students in the Zamboanga Peninsula are getting a new way to experience science beyond textbooks and classrooms with the opening of a science centrum in Dipolog City.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched the Dipolog City Science Centrum on Aug. 12, 2026, providing elementary and high school learners with access to interactive exhibits designed to make scientific concepts easier to understand through hands-on learning.

Located at the Miputak East Central School, the facility serves as a learning hub where students can explore science concepts through direct experience rather than relying solely on traditional classroom instruction.

Among its interactive exhibits is the “Finger Tingler,” which allows visitors to experience and better understand concepts related to electricity.

For educators behind the project, the centrum is also intended to address a familiar challenge in science education: helping students see how lessons learned in school connect with everyday life.

Mayormita, who helped propose the establishment of the facility, said her two decades of teaching experience showed that some students struggle with science because they do not always establish a connection between scientific concepts and their daily experiences.

“Just expose them to what science is—that it’s not a difficult subject—and is actually part of our day-to-day life. ‘Yun ang goal namin,” Mayormita said.

Mayormita and Dipolog City Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Liza R. Tabilon proposed the establishment of the science centrum in 2023.

The project was eventually realized through collaboration among DOST, the Department of Education-Dipolog City Schools Division, and the Dipolog City Government.

DOST supported the development of the exhibits through its Grant-in-Aid program, while DepEd provided assistance for knowledge bridging and facilities.

The Dipolog City Government, meanwhile, supports the maintenance and human-resource requirements of the facility, including science teachers assigned to the centrum.

(L-R) Dipolog City Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Liza R. Tabilon and DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. pose for a photo as he receives a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the department’s collaboration for the newly launched Science Centrum.

The partnership gives students a dedicated space where lessons on electricity and other scientific principles can be experienced in a more interactive environment, helping make concepts that may appear abstract in books more relatable.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. also joined the launch, where he received a certificate of appreciation recognizing the department’s collaboration in establishing the facility.

With the opening of the Dipolog City Science Centrum, the country now has 12 operating Science Centrums, according to DOST.

The new facility expands access to hands-on science learning in the region, bringing students closer to experiences that can help them understand how science works not only inside laboratories, but also in everyday life.