Disyembre 2018
ISSN 2094-6597
Photo by: PIA Capiz InfoCen SYUDAD SANG ROXAS, Capiz, Oktubre 12 (PIA) – Naglab-ot sa Php1,048,000.00 nga balor sang proyekto kaangot sa Community Empowerment pinaagi sa Science and Technology nga programa ang ginhatag sang Department of Science and Technology para sa mga mangingisda sa banwa sang Pres. Roxas kag mga mangunguma sa banwa sang Cuartero. Ang nasambit nga bulig pinansyal ang nangin kabahin sang mga serbisyo kag proyekto sang gobyerno nga ginpaambit sa mga pumoluyo kaangot sa “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” nga highlight naman sang pagtililipon subongman pagsumpa sang mga opisyal sang Kilusan ng Pagbabago sa probinsya sadtong Setyembre 29 diri sa Roxas City. Ginpahayag ni Gerbe Dellava nga direktor sang DOST – Capiz nga pagabuligan sang DOST ang mga mangingisda sa baybayon nga kabaranggayan sang Pres. Roxas pinaagi sa proyekto nga nagabalor Php518,000.00 agud matudluan sila sang panibag-o nga teknolohiya sa pagpatubo sang talaba. Ang nasambit nga bulig pinansyal ang may dugang pa nga offline digital library para sa mga estudyante, complimentary
Volume 7. No. 4
DOST naghatag bulig sa mga mangingisda, mangunguma ni Alex Lumaque
food para sa mga kulang sa timbang kag taas nga mga kabataan kag water level subongman rain gauge nga mga aparatus. Samtang naghatag man sang Php530,000.00 nga bulig pinansyal ang DOST para sa mga mangunguma sang Cuartero agud gamiton para sa pandayan nga proyekto nga ginalauman magasabat sa kinahanglanon sang mga mangunguma para sa kagamitan kapareho sang garab, kayog, sanduko kag madamu nga iban pa. Ang Cuartero ang pagataan man sang offline digital library kag complimentary food para sa undernourished nga mga kabataan. Matandaan nga ang Cuartero kag walo ka iban pa nga mga kabanwahanan ang nagbaton man sang Flood Early Warning System nga ginhatag sang DOST sadtong Agosto. (AAL/PIA Capiz)
WHAT’S INSIDE? Ilonggo MSMEs avail of packaging, labeling assistance from DOST DOST trains sights on slumping mussel sector DOST to help Boracay on waste management Filipino inventors pilot rapid dengue test kit in Western Visayas No more ‘opt-out’ for schools offering free medical tuition
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DOST-SEI held patriotism program in Iloilo DOST, CHED support health R&D in Western Visayas Pinoy-made dengue test kit rolls out in Western Visayas DOST launches Diwata-2 micro satellite on Oct. 29 DOST 6 will turn over 72 PCs in Antique DOST 6 continues BIDA Training in Antique CHED exec says health research should benefit people
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ilonggo MSMEs avail of packaging, labeling assistance from DOST by Perla Lena, PNA ILOILO CITY – A total of 14 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Iloilo province have received packaging and labeling assistance from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The product labels were turned over to recipient-beneficiaries by Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña during a short ceremony held at the Iloilo City Hall here Thursday afternoon.
“We design their product labels. We give them technical assistance on appropriate packaging materials based on their products,” Gelonga said, adding that with good product packaging, they could easily penetrate the mainstream market.
In his message prior to the turnover, dela Peña said one of the major strategies they introduced in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s desire to reduce the gaps or inequalities among regions and provinces, is to increase entrepreneurial activities and make MSMEs competitive.
“Aside from product packaging, we will also provide training on food safety and product development,” he added.
“We do not really think much about the big companies because they have their resources, their own way to improve their productivity. But the smaller ones need assistance,” he said.
Zabala recalled that before she availed of the assistance, she only placed her yema products inside a sealed plastic. She produces 50 to 100 boxes per week, intended for reselling mostly in their village at Hibao-an.
In Iloilo, the top MSMEs are into food processing, metal works, equipment fabrication, and furniture-making. “Packaging is not only to make it appear beautiful. It has a function. It has to hold the product as much as possible to protect the product and to prolong shelf life,” dela Peña added.
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DOST 6 (Western Visayas) Director Rowen Gelonga said the provision of assistance is an ongoing program of their office, in partnership with the city and provincial governments of Iloilo.
Antonette Zabala, owner of Antonia’z Yema business, is one of the local entrepreneurs who received a product label from DOST.
“With the new packaging, at least we can engage bigger communities. I am really intending to expand the market only in the region but hopefully nationwide, God willing,” she said. She and
also other
said she is planning to add polvoron sweets to her array of products. (PNA)
ALTHOUGH mussel farming requires little capital investment, is suffers from laggard production because of low value, little market demand, poor sanitary quality, and occurrence of red tides. Based on the website of Mussels Philippines, mussel production in the country totaled 25,700 metric tons (MT) in 2012, before going down to 22,900 MT in 2013 and 18,800 MT in 2014. Aside from the requisite economic analysis, Secretary Fortunato de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) particularly cited the behavior of growers and farmers as a significant factor for higher productivity of mussels. “We should also study the behavior of our growers and farmers as in other cases the sort of non-entrepreneurial character of our fishermen and farmers is a deterrent factor to a higher productivity,” he said during the 1st Philippine Mussel Congress on October 25, 2018 at Diversion 21 Hotel.
DOST trains sights on slumping mussel sector by Emme Rose Santiagudo, The Daily Guardian
According to Dr. Carlos Baylon, chair of the 1st Philippine Mussel Congress, insufficient and unstable source of seeds or spats is also one of the problems in the industry.
To address low production of mussels and insufficient and unstable seed stock, hatchery and nursery protocols/techniques were also introduced under the DOST Mussel Industry Strategic S&T Program.
“There are problems in the industry such as source of mussel seeds or spats. And also very primitive pa ang method ng ating mga farmers,” he added.
Meanwhile, to address the problem of poor sanitary quality of farmed mussels, a small-scale depuration facility models and relaying protocol was also developed by the DOST program.
The Philippines Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the DOST Mussel Industry Strategic S&T Program, aims to help develop the mussel industry by enabling farmers to produce quality and safe cultured and processed mussel products. Under this program, technologies were developed to provide sustainable and reliable source of quality mussel seeds and enable the expansion of production areas for mussel farming. The program targets to increase reliable source of quality mussel seeds, export quality mussel product, and biosecured transplantation protocol to aid area expansion, and achieve better quality mussels with high meat content. Among the major accomplishments of the program was the mussel longline culture system which is currently being pilot tested in Capiz, Sorsogon, and Pangasinan. The environmental-friendly method reduces sedimentation by 30% and offers a climate resilient feature and increase production per hectare by 30%.
The technique and the set-up allows mussels to “depurate” or self-cleanse by expelling bacteria from their gut that may pose health risks to consumers. De la Peña stated that they develop the income generation potentials
want to of farmers.
“We are all aware of our very serious concern priority that we give to increase food production security. We want to develop the income potentials particularly for our farmers and entrepreneurs,”
and high and food generation he noted.
With the theme, “Bigger and Safer Mussels for every Juan,” the 1st Philippine Mussel Congress converged the different stakeholders in the mussel industry. The congress showcased the different mussel products and technologies and disseminated the results/findings of the various researches which addressed the mussel industry strategic plans under the DOST-PCAARRD’s National Mussel Science and Technology Program.
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DOST to help Boracay on waste management by Perla Lena, PNA ILOILO CITY -The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is focused on helping Boracay Island address its solid waste management issues. Engineer Rowen Gelonga, DOST 6 (Western Visayas) director, said in an interview Friday that while they provided training and livelihood activities for displaced communities when the island was temporarily closed, its long-term engagement would be on responding to Boracay’s solid waste issues. “We are helping bioreactors for solid
in the putting waste management,”
up of he said.
Nonetheless, he agement should
underscored that be the business
“waste manof everyone.”
“I think it is really imperative for local stakeholders to start campaigning also for the active involvement of tourists in maintaining Boracay as a very good tourism destination for the country,” he said. Boracay island, which is famous for its white sand beach, opened Friday after it was temporarily closed to tourists last April 26 to undergo environmental rehabilitation. (PNA)
A bioreactor is a device that converts biodegradable wastes into compost. Six units of this will be established at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Cabulhan in mainland Malay, Aklan. Gelonga said that based on their waste assessment management study in Boracay, 40 percent of the wastes being generated are biodegradable. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) will also introduce effective micro-organism (EM). A training course will be conducted to teach participants how to produce compost using EM, he added. Moreover, Gelonga said they are in the process of conducting several research and development projects on wastewater treatment technology. There is also ongoing consultancy projects, where DOST deployed consultants on waste minimization. “The usual concept is you generate waste and then you process or manage that. The concept of waste minimization or cleaner production is that you deploy consultants to look at their procedures and activities and then we come up with the recommendation on how to minimize wastes,” Gelonga explained. Several resorts and food processing businesses on the island have been covered by the consultancy project. “Essentially, if you look at the involvement of the DOST in waste management, it is a holistic approach,” he said. Photo by: Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV
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Filipino inventors pilot rapid dengue test kit in Western Visayas by Perla Lena, PNA
He said that while it is still on its pilot implementation, the “super target is for it to reach the barangay implementation”. “If it reaches there, then I know that my job is complete because that is really our target--the marginalized sector. Hopefully you guys will help me convince agencies to adopt Filipino-based technology to inspire our scientists to keep on working,” he said.
ILOILO CITY -- Western Visayas is one of the three pilot sites for the Filipino-invented and more affordable rapid test kit to detect the deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever.
“If you want scientists to be inspired by doing more for health and science development, is for his countrymen to adopt what they’re doing. Personally, it’s very difficult to compete with foreign products in your home country,” he added. He said that their technology was supposed to go full-swing five years ago but for now they have DOH, which is one-third of their target adopters. The others are supposed to be the private health institutions and the local government units.
Biotek-M is now a “matured” technology, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), adopted by the Department of Health (DOH), and now in the pilot implementation, said Dr. Raul V. Destura, scientist and molecular microbiologist, on Wednesday.
“This is the first locally developed technology for dengue diagnostics that has reached this far,” he said.
“We are the first who developed locally the technology intended to reach the marginalized sector. The purpose of the technology is to become the new standard in terms of cost for diagnostics,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the 3rd Western Visayas Health Research Conference held in this city.
“The technology is owned by the people because it came from your pockets. The government is just the administrator of your money. So, basically it is owned by the country, it is rightful that we adopt it and be proud of what we are doing,” he urged.
The rapid test kit for dengue is 70 to 80 percent cheaper compared with existing test kits available in the market. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology costs between PHP4,000 to PHP7,000 per test. The Biotek-M is 100 percent government-funded: 90 percent from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and 10 percent by the University of the Philippines. In addition to Western Visayas, it is also being tested in Ilocos Region and Zamboanga Peninsula.
He underscored that if adopters are not responsive to what they are doing, then they “fail” the government and the science community.
The science and technology development costs about PHP14 million and the Technology Adaptation and Promotion Institute (FAPI) added PHP11 million for the field post marketing research. The team composed of
that seven
developed the Biotek-M is inventors and four support staff.
“The government is spending millions and millions of pesos to spark development in the country. I’ve never seen this much funding opportunity provided since I came back from the US in 2005,” he said. The action of the government he said is “very encouraging”.
“Right now, our manufacturing targets are the demand of the Department of Health (DOH),” he added. “The challenge now is not just developing the technology. It’s for our countrymen to trust Filipino scientists developing technology. The adaptation part is a major challenge for our technology developers,” he added.
The 3rd Western Visayas Health Research Conference with the theme “Improved Health Outcome through Health Research and Innovation” is organized by the Western Visayas Research and Development Consortium (WVRDC) in partnership with the DOST and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). (PNA)
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No more ‘opt-out’ for schools offering free medical tuition by Perla Lena, PNA
ILOILO CITY -- State universities and colleges (SUCs) that extend free medical tuition may consider the “no option to pay” being implemented by the University of the Philippines-Manila to make sure that their students render return service after obtaining their medical licenses. In a press conference here on Wednesday, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III, said around 1,200 medical students are enjoying the free tuition made available in eight SUCs in the country. Also, he announced that they also approved to offer the same at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao. However, he said there are those who opted to pay because the tuition is low, and they don’t want the return service requirement. “In just
UP they have no opt-out. free tuition, it is value
What you get is not for money,” he said.
He added that public schools that offer the free medical tuition are talking to each other, so he thought that “it’s where it is going to go”. “Anyway, you can always
don’t study
want to in other
return service, schools,” he
you said.
Nonetheless, another option would be to increase the fund and make it more substantial. This way they can provide other support such as book allowance.
“Since 2014 we had been having topnotchers and high percentage of passing in the licensure examination. There was even a time that we have 100 percent,” he said. Sorolla said Dr. Au is a recipient of the free medical tuition implemented starting two years ago. Hence, she is already expected to render an institutionally-based return service. Right now, they are also crafting a return service scheme in coordination with CHED and other SUCs. He said that some of their students decided to pay their tuition so as not to render the return service defined under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education. The return service agreement was suspended this year, he said.
He said that CHED is working with the Department of Health (DOH) “to create clear pathways” so that after passing the physician licensure examination, they have options to choose from. For return service, they may opt to have their residency in government hospitals, join the “Doctors to the Barrio” or do health research. De Vera was the keynote speaker during the Western Visayas Health Conference organized by the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium in partnership with the regional offices of the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the DOST-Philippine Center for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). Meantime, one of the recipients of the free medical tuition is the West Visayas State University (WVSU) that landed in the seventh rank among the top 10 best performing medical schools in the country in the 2018 Physician Licensure Examination. Dr. Luis M. Sorolla Jr, WVSU president, said 91 out of 94 takers passed the examination, equivalent to a passing rate of 96.81 percent. One of its graduates, Jill Therese Au, made it to the top 10 with 89.58 percent score.
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He emphasized that their return service should be “voluntary community service, which should enhance their learning”. “It should be along their field of expertise, how do they use their knowledge in the course that they have taken in order to promote a better quality of life for the people,” he said. At present, WVSU has more than 400 medical enrollees but not all have availed. On the average, the tuition is PHP29,000 to per semester plus miscellaneous that is roughly to PHP15,000. “Many can well afford it,” He said of the school year, they
PHP30,000 PHP10,000 he said.
PHP18 million budget this only utilized PHP12 million.
Sorolla hoped that the university can increase its enrollees once their new four-storey College of Medicine building becomes operational. “The number of students is determined by our facilities, our faculty and other resources of the university,” he said. (PNA)
Photo by: Sunstar Iloilo
DOST-SEI to hold patriotism program in Iloilo by Carolyn Jane Abello, SunStar Iloilo THE Department of Science and Technology–Science and Education Institute (DOST-SEI) will hold a 2-day program to instill patriotic values among its scholars. DOST-SEI director Dr. Josette Biyo said the program aims to instill the core values of “professional excellence, social responsibility and servant leadership” among its scholars. It will be held on November 23 and 24 in Iloilo City.ARTICLE_MOBILE_AD_CODE Around 6,000 undergraduate and graduate level of scholars who specialize in the fields of science math, science education and engineering are being supported by DOST-SEI. Entitled as “The Filipino Patriot Scholars Project,” it comprises of various activities that will allow the scholars to interact with the different sectors or community and identify problems and provide solutions. “Part of the two days formation program, they will be educated of the Problem Tree Analysis so that there will be critical thinking. What are the root cause of this problem that exists in the specific barangay (village) or community,” Biyo said. Apart from identifying such problems, the scholars will also identify what agencies to tap that can assist in solving the problem. “Most especially, how can they be part of the solution kasi sila ang sa community so gina train naton ang mga scholars naton with that kind of thinking so that they will see that in the future when they become professionals,” Biyo added. Biyo, with her team of professionals, are eyeing to check the places of Lanit, Jaro district; Barangay Rima, City Proper; Iloilo Central Market; City Social Welfare Development orphanage, Molo district; Balay Dalayunan, Lapuz district; Balay Tilipunan, City Proper and Sooc, Arevalo district to be the prospect subject of their program.
The 2-day workshop will have a series of lectures of several lessons per module. There will be resource speakers for the specific activities and lessons. “We will be also promoting local heroes of Iloilo. We have a lot and then we will be inviting also mga scholars naton (our) from the Iloilo who have really made contributions not only in the Philippines but in the world,” Biyo said. The team With the huge step to take, Biyo convinced young professionals to join her for the effective implementation of the program. One of them is Ma. Nerissa Nicolas, a robotics champion who has represented the Philippines in world competitions. Her journey started after she achieved recognitions when she was still a student. The first time she engaged with robotics competition, her team won the Philippine Robotics Olympian in 2018. Their victory qualified them to join the international level in Korea and won as 9th placer. Nicolas pursued to coach grade school student while on her college days, and her team placed second and fourth place in Indonesia. As she goes who convinced
on her
challenging to work
Nicolas was awarded outstanding students of
as the
herself, Nicolas met Biyo with her in the program. one of Philipppines
the of
ten 2015.
Two other members of Biyo’s team were Susana Esquivel and Robby Reyes. Esquivel had been working with the DOST-SEI for 24 years already. Reyes, a fresh graduate of the University of Philippines-Diliman was convinced to be part of the team because of the project’s vision. “Kasi it proves na DOST-SEI do not just capacitate students financially but holistically. Nabubuo niya ngayon yung values formation na dapat meron talaga pag scholar,” he said. (He is able to form certain values that scholars should have) “Nakikita mo ‘yung pagbabago sa perspective ng students not just scholars. Now, they’re citizens of the country na may care and willing to do something to the country na hindi mo usually nakikita,” he added. (You will see the change in the perspective of the students. Now, they’re citizens of the country who have care and willing to do something for the country, which you don’t usually find nowadays)
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“Despite the challenges, we need to continue health research. We are doing research because we need to improve the health of Filipinos.” said Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, DOST VI Regional Director during the 2nd day of the same event.
DOST, CHED support health R&D in Western Visayas by Julius Remar Gabiota, DOST6
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson J. Prospero E. De Vera III, DPA highlighted the importance of health research and innovation in advancing health care quality and health outcomes, citing notable advancements in the global and national levels that made profound changes in human society during the 3rd Western Visayas Health Research Conference held at Diversion 21 Hotel last November 7, 2018. “Health researches here (Western Visayas) more efficiently support the goals of health in Region VI and in the whole country” said Chairperson De Vera III in his keynote speech. He further added “Research and innovation are necessary to improve the health system so that it can attain its goal of promoting, restoring or maintaining the health of the people”. Meanwhile, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI Regional Director and Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) Co-chair, also expressed his strong intent to pursue and continually improve health research and innovation through science and technology in Western Visayas.
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Director Gelonga also emphasized that there is a need to make medicine more affordable and make health services available in the region through health research and innovation. The conference included plenaries and research forums on health research and innovation including some other activities such as Graduate Research Competition, Undergraduate Research Competition, and Research Forum Synthesis, Graduate Research Oral Presentation Competition, Undergraduate Oral Presentation Competition, Poster Presentation Competition and Press Conference. The Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC), formerly RHRDC VI, was formally converted into a consortium last November 19,2010. The primary objective of the WVHRDC is to strengthen the system of collaboration in Region VI in order to develop and enhance the capacity of institutions within the region engaged and interested in health research, as a strategy to improve the health conditions of its people. The WVHRDC is also expected to establish mechanisms to strengthen health research capabilities, encourage resource sharing between institutions, and promote the dissemination and utilization of health research results in the region. Identified priority areas of Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA), which promotes investment in health research in the country include: Infectious Diseases, Child and Adolescent Health, Non-communicable Disease, Maternal and Child Health, Substance Abuse, Expanded Program on Immunization, Food and Nutrition, Drug Discovery and Development, Geriatric Health, Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Mental Health, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, Special Groups, Pharmacoeconomics, Health Governance, Health Research and Utilization, Health Technologies, Human Resources, Healthcare Policy and Regulation, Environmental Health and Sanitation, Health Service Delivery and Referral System, Medical Devices, Occupational Safety and Health Hazards, Health Financing, ICT Applications in Health and Accidents and Injuries. The two-day health conference was organized by Region VI offices of Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), and DOST- Philippine Council for Health Rewsearch and Devcelopment (PCHRD). (DOST6/JRAGabiota)
Pinoy-made dengue test kit rolls out in Western Visayas by Emme Rose Santiagudo, The Daily Guardian
WESTERN Visayas is one of the three pilot sites for a locally developed rapid test kit used for the early detection of dengue. According to Dr. Raul V. Destura, a scientist and molecular microbiologist, the rapid test kit for dengue is 70 to 80 percent cheaper compared to other testing kits in the market. “This time we get access to molecular tools which is 70 to 80 cheaper than what we are supposed to pay. It is cheaper compared to our existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that cost around PHP4,000 to PHP7,000 per test,” Destura said. Destura said the purpose of the new developed technology is to become the new standard in terms of cost for diagnostics in the country. “The process is also new and we are the first who developed locally the technology that is intended to reach the marginalized sector. In terms of the market kasi tagabili lang tayo hndi tayo taga-gawa,” he added. Destura country
emphasized to develop
the its
“With the government really sparking a lot of develop your own because on the sides while we wait look solutions for our own
need own
for the technologies.
programs it is initiative programs to we cannot just wait for other countries to problems,” he stressed.
The challenge is not developing the technology but for to trust their own fellow countrymen developing technology, according
only on the Filipinos scientists in to Destura.
With the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and adoption by the Department of Health (DOH), Biotek-M is now considered a mature technology. Aside from Western Visayas, it is also currently being pilot tested in areas Ilocos Region and Zamboanga Peninsula. The advances in the dengue diagnostics was government funded from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines.
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DOST to launch Diwata-2 micro satellite on Oct. 29 by Perla Lena, PNA
ILOILO CITY -- The Philippines will launch its micro second satellite named Diwata-2 to the International Space Station (ISS) this October 29. This was announced by Dr. Fortunato de la Peña, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), when he delivered his keynote address during the first Philippine Mussel Congress held in this city on Thursday. In an interview, de la Peña said the second micro satellite was developed by Filipino young engineers under the mentorship of experts at the Tohoku University in Japan. He will be joined by Senator Bam Aquino who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology during the launching of the 50-kilogram satellite in Japan. “Diwata 2 is carrying improved camera capabilities and it can also be used as a communication facility, particularly in times of emergencies,” he said. For the duration of the six-year period from 2017 to 2022, de la Peña said there has to be no single moment that there is no Philippine satellite that is making an orbit. “We are programming already that most likely there is already the third Diwata so that there will always be a Philippine satellite orbiting,” he added. Meanwhile, de la Peña said they were expecting Diwata-1 to “disintegrate already but it is still orbiting”. The Diwata-1, which was brought to the ISS in 2016, has cameras that can take images. But Diwata-2 has better cameras. (PNA)
Photo by: PHL-MICROSAT
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DOST 6 will turn over 72 PCs in Antique by Julius Remar Gabiota, DOST6 Antique, November 20, 2018 — The Department of Science and Technology VI in cooperation with the University of Antique is set to provide a total of 72 units of computers with printers, 36 of which be installed with Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS), 18 with Barangay Infosystem for Development and Accountability (BIDA) System and the remaining to serve as network computers installed with STARBOOKS.
beneficiaries in Antique and enhance the skills of the attending personnel on how to use the said software to capacitate them to train the school and barangaybeneficiaries where they were given the chance to explore and conduct a hands-on activity on the said software and system. This BIDA system was developed by DOST VI who acted as Resource Persons during the activity. The said system will provide the beneficiary-LGUs convenient access to DOST programs such as OneStore, OneExpert, STARBOOKS and OneLab. Also, the system will help the barangays improve their office operations particularly in preparing relevant barangay documents such as minutes of meeting, resolutions, or clearances easily. Subsequently, the IT personnel conducted an echo-training to the Municipal Science and Technology Officers (MSTOs) to capacitate them to train their assigned barangay beneficiaries in the use of the BIDA System. The training will also enable the beneficiaries to easily manage barangay documents such as clearances, minutes of meeting, resolutions and another barangay issuance.
In support to this program, DOST 6 conducted the “Installation and Training on the Use of STARBOOKS and Barangay Infosystem for Development and Accountability (BIDA) last November 15-16, 2018 at the University of Antique-Sibalom Campus. The turnover of these units will benefit identified schools and barangays in Antique which shall satisfy the components of DOST’s “Community Empowerment Through Science and Technology Program in the Province of Antique” (CEST) Project namely: Human Resource Development; Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation; and Strengthening of Community Governance The activity trained the Information Technology (IT) personnel coming from the University of Antique on how to use and install the said system. The activity was also attended by the Municipal Science and Technology Officers (MSTOs) of the CEST Project and other personnel from the said 18 school and 18 barangay-beneficiaries. The activity was conducted mainly to provide desktop computers installed with BIDA system to help strengthen the community governance of the identified barangay-
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DOST 6 continues BIDA Training in Antique by Julius Remar Gabiota, DOST6 Antique, November 15, 2018 — The Department of Science and Technology VI in cooperation with the University of Antique through the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, conducted an activity on the “Installation and Training on the Use of Barangay Infosystem for Development and Accountability (BIDA) on November 15, 2018 at the University of Antique. The activity aims to train the IT personnel coming from the University of Antique on how to use and install the said system. This activity is in line with the Strengthening of Community Governance component of the project “Community Empowerment Through Science and Technology Program in the Province of Antique” which will provide desktop computers installed with BIDA system to identified barangay- beneficiaries in Antique. This BIDA system was developed by DOST VI who acted as Resource Persons during the activity. The said system will provide the beneficiary-LGUs convenient access to DOST programs such as OneStore, OneExpert, STARBOOKS and OneLab. Also, the system will help the barangays improve their office operations particularly in preparing relevant barangay documents such as minutes of meeting, resolutions, or clearances easily. Subsequently, the IT personnel shall conduct an echo-training to the Municipal Science and Technology Officers (MSTOs) in order to capacitate them to train their assigned barangay beneficiaries in the use of the BIDA System.
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CHED exec says health research should benefit people by Perla Lena, PNA
ILOILO CITY -- The end goal of conducting health research should always be to serve the people, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III said here Wednesday. Chairman De Vera spoke before the consortium of health researchers from Western Visayas during their third biennial conference in this city. “Health research and innovation should not just be about journal articles or conference presentations and even grant applications. In the end health research should always serve the people, maybe not directly but always intentionally,” he emphasized in his keynote address. In his message, he made the call for health research to be more multi-disciplinary such that it brings “other fields or other experts to start doing health research and health innovation.” “Let me emphasize that health research and innovation is not just medicine or any of the allied health services. It is multi-disciplinary involving the natural and social sciences as well,” he said. He said the research and innovation should not only be for researchers from the academe and research institutions but also of health practitioners. “They should be highly motivated to participate in research and innovation projects and appreciate employees who offer the best opportunities for such participation,” he added. However, he pointed out that the secret of coming up with innovative researchers “was a quality higher education system and innovative and responsive health research system that is founded on quality higher education.” The government’s Free Higher Education program mandated under the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Quality Tertiary Education Act requires higher education institutions to comply with the quality standards set by the CHED to access funds. “While the improvement in quality may take time to institutionalize, in the long run, this will hopefully bound to the overall improvement of the quality of higher education institutions, which is crucial to promoting health research and similar researches,” he added.
In a follow up press conference, De Vera said that they are putting in a lot of money on the PCARI (Philippine-California Advanced Research Institutes) Project composed of two major programs with one being health related. The PCARI is a project between top Philippine universities and the University of California where top researchers from both universities group together to work on common projects, he said. Right now, they are developing a drug testing kit that can detect 100 designer drugs. The one that is commercially available in the Philippines can only detect six prohibited drugs. “The technology is already available in the US (United States). We have to customize it to the Philippines,” he said. The
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“The ones who will benefit from this new drug testing kit are the law enforcement authorities of the country who will now have a tool to test and prosecute and stop these activities,” he said. Also, through PCARI they were able to develop a drone that can do a three-dimensional picture of the building. It is expected to be helpful for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). “This will be very useful in the country, disasters for example,” he said. The drone is expected to be tested soon. For regular funds, though, he cited that CHED and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have been working on common areas as they are committed to ensure that public fund intended for research and innovation is maximized. “We complement each other; that is the commitment that we have in the Duterte administration,” he said. Meantime, De Vera also lauded the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) that organized the conference. The WVHRDC is now being used as benchmark by other regains to start their own pool of researchers. The consortium has 27 member-institutions The conference was also supported by the DOST, DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and the Department of Health. It anchored on the theme “Improved Health Outcomes Through Health Research and Innovations”. (PNA)
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