Filipino game app educates children on biodiversity

To inspire learners to learn more about rich biodiversity of Siargao Island, a game application titled, “Siargao Flora & Fauna Puzzle” was developed by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP).

The Siargao Flora & Fauna Puzzle game app, an offline game, similar to one of the most played mobile games, Candy Crush, but introduces new animal species, instead, on specific levels. Each level is an idle and visual way to understand the habitat and behavior of Siargao’s natural treasures like Mindanao Tree Squirrel, Paka Gadikit, and Platymantis Paka through the app feature called, “Siargao Journal.”

“Let us explore Siargao Island through this game app, especially for our children, and learn more about the types of plants and animals that continue to thrive in Siargao’s rich biodiversity,” Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II of Surigao del Norte 1st Congressional District endorsed the NRCP game application to parents and children.

(An offline smartphone game called Siargao Flora and Fauna Puzzle was created as a result of a National Research Council of the Philippines grant. Scientific research findings are translated into entertaining and interesting platforms through the Council's Leveraging Basic Research Information Translation for Empowerment in the Regions Program (BRITER), which supports the advancement of basic research and a science culture among youth throughout the Philippines' regions.)

Cong. Matugas emphasized that the game app is a fun, safe, and educational tool for learning about the island’s natural species.

The project, funded by the NCRP, involved environmental researchers led by Dr. Cecilia Banag-Moran, who conducted research, assessment, inventory, and a biological field survey of the Mangrove Forest in Del Carmen, Siargao Island.

(The game-app can be accessed through Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ph.gov.dost.nrcp.sffpuzzlegame)

The success of the Siargao Flora & Fauna Puzzle underscores the positive impact of the DOST-NRCP’s initiatives in promoting basic research nationwide. Local leaders and members of the lower house are increasingly recognizing the value of evidence-based research studies in shaping policies and crafting legislation.

Senator Francis N. Tolentino, at the 2024 DOST budget deliberation, emphasized that the wealth of scientific research and data from the DOST needs to be actively applied by other government agencies to improve their respective services.

Looking ahead, the researchers, scientists, engineers, policymakers, scholars, academicians, entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, and government officials will gather in the 2024 Annual Scientific Conference and the 91st NRCP General Assembly scheduled this March 12, 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). For more information about the 2024 NRCP General Membership Assembly at PICC, please visit the website or Facebook page of the DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines. (S&T Media Service, Glenn Ford B. Tolentino)