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DOST introduces new water filtration technology

A NEW water filtration system is being pilot tested in Davao City.

Mirasol Domingo, assistant regional director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Davao Region, said three food processors, including Porky Best Food, are using the Vertical Helophyte Filtration System (VHFS).

On the sidelines of the Habi at Kape press conference, Domingo said the DOST allotted P100,000 for the pilot testing of the VHFS.

VHFS is a technology adapted from the Netherlands, where it is used in households.

In Davao Region, after Dutch water engineering and waste management expert Sean Ligvoet introduced the technology to DOST, the government agency is eyeing to first use it in food processing establishments and small businesses.

The facility filters filthy water and cleans it so that it can be reused.

“The cleaned water will not be potable anymore. But you can use for watering the plants and washing the car,” said Domingo.

During the pilot testing that started last year, Domingo said they are collecting samples of clean water quarterly to test its cleanliness. As it is still a very early testing, she said they could not yet conclude anything out of the project.

Aside from the three food processing establishments in the city that are already using VHFS in their facility, Domingo said they are currently finalizing talks with the city government to establish an 10 times bigger version of VHFS in the Davao City slaughterhouse. This project is tagged as Sani Embankment Project.

“This project had been reviewed by the Committee on Environment and it is ready to go. The drafted memorandum of agreement had already been approved so it is ready for signing of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The mayor is also supportive of this project,” said Domingo, adding that they look forward to the mayor signing the MOA probably by next month.

According to Domingo, from the slaughter area, the waste water will drain down to the holding area of waste water. Here, a helophyte system will be installed to the filter the water before it would flow through the canals.

“I think in the future it is something we can showcase,” said Domingo.

DOST works to counter disasters, climate change

ByPTV NEWS - AB

Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum (File Photo)

MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is working on 27 new projects for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation, Undersecretary Renato Solidum said Tuesday.

These projects are part of the DOST’s National R&D agenda for 2017-2022.

“We expect most of these projects to be approved this year,” Solidum said at the recent National R&D conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

He said seven of these projects are for monitoring and forecasting, four are for hazards, vulnerability, and risk assessment, two are for warning and risk communication, and the rest are for technology solutions — areas that are among the DOST’s priorities.

Solidum said DOST-attached agencies have also partnered with universities in developing projects related to disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), for instance, has partnered with the Mapua Institute of Technology for the development of an earthquake intensity monitoring system. The project also targets to monitor active fault movements.

To monitor hydrometerological phenomena and related hazards, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has partnered with the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB) for rainfall monitoring and landslide warning. The partnership targets heavy rain monitoring and forecasting in mountainous areas and early warning for landslides.

Solidum mentioned that Phivolcs is working with UP to enhance damage estimation capabilities using building-specific analysis. “This is a feature-based earthquake analysis toolset for urban response estimation,” he said.

Among the Phivolcs’ projects is the ground motion modeling, he said, noting that specific earthquake ground motion would help enhance the seismic resiliency of residential and medium- to high-rise buildings in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.

PAGASA has also teamed up with the Ateneo de Manila University (AdeMU) for rain monitoring, where a novel rain acoustic sensor would be developed.

“PAGASA is currently enhancing its hydrometeorological hazards monitoring and risk assessment, as well as its information-sharing capabilities,” he added.

AdeMU was also tapped for the development of a groundwater resource management plan and monitoring system for Zamboanga City and surrounding areas.

Mapua, meanwhile, was tapped for the development of an automated real-time monitoring system for the Magat Dam, as well as for the development of the Philippines’ Structural Integrity Monitoring System for Critical Infrastructures in Metro Manila (PhilSIMS). This is for earthquake mitigation, according to Solidum.

Mapua is also the partner university for the development of a high-frequency doppler radar ship tracking algorithm software for maritime search, surveillance, and rescue.

For some of the other projects, the DOST has tapped the expertise of state universities and colleges in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)

NDRRMC recommends to place Boracay under state of calamity

Written by Mario J. Mallari
Wednesday, 25 April 2018 00:00

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in the world-famous Boracay Island to ensure smooth rehabilitation efforts there.

The recommendation was the product of a meeting among member-agencies of NDRRMC on Monday, presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as chairman of the council.
The declaration shall cover three barangays on Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan for a maximum period of one year.
The NDRRMC also recommended the temporary closure of the island for a period of six months to allow the government in its expeditious rehabilitation, as well as in addressing the evolving socio-economic needs of affected communities.
“The draft resolution recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in the affected barangays covering Boracay Island was approved by the national council subject to minimal modification as discussed during the meeting and for review of the Legal Working Group,” Lorenzana said.
“This concerted effort from the National DRRM Council is in continued pursuit of our initiatives to building disaster resilient Filipino communities,” he added.
The affected barangays are Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapak which comprise Boracay Island.
The NDRRMC recommendation is expected to be forwarded to Malacanang for President Duterte’s approval yesterday.
In attendance during the NDRRMC meeting were secretaries, head of agencies and representatives of the departments of Health (DoH), Science and Technology (DoST), Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Based on the investigation and validation undertaken by the DILG and DENR, pollution caused by improper waste management and encroachment of protected areas by illegal structures have adversely affected the overall ecological balance of the Island.
Findings of the DoST further revealed that beach erosion is prevalent in Boracay Island, particularly along the West Beach where as much as 40 meters of erosion has taken place in the past 20 years from 1993 to 2003, and is largely due to storms, extraction of sand along the beach to raise properties, and structures along the foreshore.
In addition, Regional DRRM Council VI data shows the significant increase in tourist arrivals in the Island for the last five years, specifically from 1,206,252 tourist arrivals in 2012 to 2,001,974 tourist arrivals in 2017.
The President has already ordered the closure of Boracay Island from tourists starting Thursday to pave the way for the rehabilitation of the world-famous destination.