DOST just inaugurated a 100% locally made train!

Everybody, meet the Hybrid Electric Train, aka HET.

It’s a 100% locally made train, developed by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and it’s just been inaugurated today!

DOST-Philippines Secretary Fortunato de la Peña led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Biñan, Laguna station.

He was joined by Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina Guevara, Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation Leah Buendia, PNr Chief Security Officer Ricarte Galope, and Station Operations Area I OIC Francisco Vegas.

“A product of the DOST-MIRDC’s research and development initiatives, the HET technology is a breakthrough in its own right.  This home-grown technology, once given a chance, is going to make the Filipinos' public transportation challenges a thing of the past,” read a portion of a statement on the MIRDC website.

“The HET aims to raise the efficiency of the PNR’s operations through reduced production and operational costs,” it added.

Apparently, the project started in 2016 and two years later in 2018, it passed the reliability, availability, maintainability and safety testings.

For its launch day, the HET will run from the PNR Alabang Station to Biñan Station. — LA, GMA News