DOST REPORT EPISODE 15 With Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña and CRADLE Program “Sanib-Lakas ng Industriya at mga Unibersidad”
KALUSUGAN
Unrelenting in its mission to fulfill the S&T initiatives of 4Ks (Kalusugan, Kaayusan, Kabuhayan, Kinabukasan) to minimize the chance oftransmission of the COVID-19virus, the Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ITDI)provided assistance to the Ospital ng Maynilawith basic personal protective equipment (PPE) such as 50 pieces 3D-printed face shields and also 50 pieces ear loop holders or ear relief bands thathelp minimize possible injuries and bruising among frontlinersdue to extended use of face masks.Apart from this, three (3) boxes (with total of 900 pouches) of Ready-To-Eat (RTE) Chicken Arroz Caldowere also donated to the hospital’s medical workers. The shelf-stable Arroz Caldo packed by Kai Anya Foods are easily consumed straight from the pouches without need for beverage or utensils.
KABUHAYAN –StrongIndustry,Agri-based Collaborations in the Regions
There were six (6) projects that set forth relevant government partnerships in the regions as follows;
1) Agri-based livelihood activities and business ventures for the improvement on the growth of native pigs, chickens and ducks. DOST is working with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure convergence of programs and closer collaboration.
2) DA of Region 6 has earmarked Php 7.5M for a project that provides a wide range of packaging assistance such as label design,product packaging, development of manuals and capacity building to at least 100 farmers and fisherfolk in Western Visayas.
3) DTI, DOST, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Bicol Region signed an undertaking to promote the growth and development of local MSMEsthrough capacity building in the areas such asfood processing and good manufacturing practicescoming from DOST; registrations, certificates and licenses from DTI, and safety regulations from FDA.
4) DA, DOST, DTI, PCA, DAR and P/LGUs of Region 11 push for convergence actions to address issues and gaps in the cacao industry via the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) of Davao del Norte. This includes among others, technology support, marketing, land tenure system, policy, climate change resiliency, environment, and institutional capacity.
5) DOST, DTI and DA in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are working togetherinpursuit of a sustainable coffee industry in the region. With DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and Consultancy on Agriculture Productivity Enhancement (CAPE), the beneficiaries from the region will learn post-harvest processing of coffee beans and technology on coffee rejuvenation particularly of coffee trees.
6) Three (3) Community Empowerment through Science and Technology or CEST Programs are being implemented in the regions to to improve the livelihood opportunities of marginalized groups namely:
Ø Piñan Women Livelihood Bread, Cakes & Pastries Association (PWLBCPA) of Region 9 received Php711,000 through Grants–in-Aid (GIA) program to acquire various bakery equipment for upgrading their bread, cakes, and pastry business.
Ø DOST VIIreleased a grant of Php700,000 to the Bitaug Farmers’ Cooperative in Siquijor to establish a sustainable community-based livelihood program and promote inclusive development to low income farmers and community beneficiaries from the said locality.
Ø DOST IIprovided waste recycling equipment such as Plastic Shredder and Glass Pulverizer toLGUsin Cagayan Valleyin support of the implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or RA 9003, while providing livelihood to the community.
KINABUKASAN
Two (2)forward-moving activities comprise the area of “Kinabukasan” as reported by DOST:
1) The DOST and UP PLANADES launched on August 10 the Settlements Model for New Growth Areas. The model can predict new growth areas in the country and provide a tool to match housing supply and demand. The eight modules of the training program are as follows: 1) module structure, results and application; 2) drivers of urban growth; 3) GIS and spatial analysis; 4) land use and change detection; 5) land use/land cover simulation; 6) projecting housing demand; 7) financial requirements for housing; and 8) application of settlements model in planning.
2) To commemorate the first anniversary of the establishment of the Philippine Space Agency or PhilSA last August 6th, Sec.de la Peña mentioned the strides in space R&D and technology such as the creation of three Filipino satellites Diwata-1, Diwata-2 and Maya-1;its ground receiving station called the Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation (PEDRO); University Laboratory for Small Satellites and Space Engineering Systems (ULyS³ES) in UP Diliman and the earlier technology investments such as the DREAM and Phil-LIDAR programs.
Successful CRADLE Programs into Agri-Aqua Activities
Proponents of two R&D activities under the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) program shared their successful collaboration workduring the broadcast of the DOST Report episode.
1) Aquafeeds Problem Solved– R&D collaboration between Dr. Alvin Culaba of De La Salle University (DLSU) and SANTEH Feeds represented by Ms. Patricia Rico created a machine harvester for “lablab” – an algaeknown to bevery viable as feeds component in many fishfarms. The technology made possible the harvesting of lablab in onlyfive minutes compared to the usual 30 minutes span when a team of four people did it manually. Because of the fast harvest, the algae can be dried and turned into powdered form so that this can be mixed for 25% ratiowith commercial feeds during lean season. The R&D intervention reduced costs for feeds as well as lessen the need for additional labor during lablab harvesting.
2) Banana Disease now in control – The joint undertaking is a collaboration of Hijo Resources Corporation of Rosanna Tuason-Fores; Dr. Gilbert A. Importante, Dean of the College of Applied Economics from the University of South Eastern Philippines (USEP); and Dr. Val Quimno, project leader of the Banana Disease Surveillance Systemwhich established and enhanced the company’s disease control interventions through better understanding of pests, plant selection, harvest monitoring, inputs monitoring, plant care, fertilization, and farm operation modules. As a result of this innovation, the system has earned substantial savings for the company. The University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) has been a longstanding partner in R&D, and in fact, at present has already engaged 16 industries in Regions 11 and 12, generating more than 25 million pesos for research, involving 100 or more faculty, students and staff from 2017 to 2019.
Both corporations, SANTEH Feeds and Hijo Resources Corporation, expressed their appreciation for the CRADLEProgram and encouraged other companies to do collaborativeworkwith R&D institutions so they canjointly address industry problems and issues in terms of productivity, technology and human resources in their respective fields of endeavor, and at the same time opennew opportunities for synergistic activities in the future. (S&T Media Service)
