Research Utilization

DOST projects to counter disasters, climate change

April 29, 2018

science01-042918 — In Photo: Science Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum

Government scientists are working on 27 new projects for disaster-risk reduction and climate-change adaptation and mitigation, Science Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum said on Tuesday.

These projects are part of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) National Research and Development 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 in Pasay City.

He added seven of the 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 said 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’s 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 (AdMU) 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,” Solidum added.

AdMU 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. 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.

Image Credits: Stephanie Tumampos

DOST-NCR helps clean up creek, empower Taguig area

By: BusinessMirror

April 29, 2018

science03-042918 — In Photo: Representatives from partner agencies clean up Conga Creek.

The Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region (DOST-NCR) recently collaborated with the local government of Taguig City and other government agencies to help clean up the Conga Creek to achieve a cleaner, safer and healthier metropolitan environment.

The Conga Creek in Taguig spans around 300 meters with 28 B most probable number (MPN)/100 ml reading of coliform and 0 oxygen water analysis.

Under the international standards, the acceptable MPN should be less than 1 up to less than 10 MPN.

This means that the pollution in the creek is way beyond the acceptable limit, and all the oxygen has been used up. Under such condition, no fish would ever survive because it has to compete with billions of bacteria.

Conga Creek is among the 48 creeks under the Adopt an Estero Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other private and government agencies.

Collaborating with Taguig City under the program, the DOST-NCR will not only help in cleaning up the creek but will also help empower the communities through the DOST Community Empowerment through Science and Technology.

The program helps communities improve their living conditions through science and technology interventions in health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, livelihood/economic enterprise development and disaster-risk reduction and climate-change adaptation.

The partners in the Adopt an Estero Program also committed to support each other in the following areas: information and education campaigns, community mobilization and other activities that would foster harmonious relations.

They will also work together in decongesting the pilot site of garbage dumps and introduce interventions, which are aligned with the DENR’s recommended measures, such as the planting of bamboo and other plant species along the river banks and other activities.

The other agency-partners in the Conga Creek cleanup are the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the departments of Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government and of Health.

There are around 273 waterways (estero) in the metropolitan area alone, according to the MMDA. It is not uncommon to see polluted waterways in Metro Manila, and the level of pollution has been a concern among environmentalists and other individuals and groups.

S&T Media Service

Image Credits: DOST-NCR photo

A hydrologist and flood warnings

Updated April 29, 2018, 11:37 AM

By Alexandria Dennise San Juan

Jayson Bausa, 44, is one of 10 hydrologists of PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division. (Mark Balmores)

Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz is now a household name due to his insightful, detailed, yet easy to understand on-air weather forecasts, especially during typhoon season.

People rely on him, and other competent weather forecasters from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration or (PAGASA) for the latest advisories on looming storms and typhoons.

Behind the scenes and TV cameras, however, are other members of the weather forecasting team with data that can save people and entire communities from catastrophic flashfloods and bodies of water breaching its banks.

Welcome to the world of hydrologists.

FORECAST EQUIPMENT – Photo shows some of the instruments used for weather forecasts and flood warnings at the PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City. (Mark Balmores)

Job description

Jayson Bausa, 44, is one of 10 hydrologists of PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division.

Jayson has been with the government weather bureau’s research division since 2005.

In 2007, a friend urged him to take a training course in hydrology and meteorology.

It has been seven years since Jayson became one of the 10 hydrologists in PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division.

Hydrologists in PAGASA have three major duties: To monitor the water level status of dams and river basin centers, to issue daily weather forecasts and possible flood advisories, and to update the dam status, general flood advisory, river basin forecast and hydro forecast.

In addition, government hydrologists also conduct field surveys for cross section data from major rivers in the country, and post-flood surveying and investigate the cause of the flood.

The team is currently doing hazard mapping in the whole country to identify what places are mostly affected by rain-induced flood.

Testing the waters

“You get to travel locally or internationally when visiting various rivers, or when attending trainings. Aside from having a stable job in the government, you have the idea what places can possibly be hit by flashfloods so you can inform and warn the public,” Jayson, a Mathematics major, shared.

On the field, hydrologists assess rivers in different regions and determine its capacity to overflow, discharge speed during mormal and extreme weather, and measuring the current which may trigger flashfloods.

Today, PAGASA hydrologists use two monitoring systems from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The equipment are used by Jayson and his team to monitor river basin centers in Pampanga, Bicol region and Cagayan Valley.

‘Ondoy’ alert

Jayson recalled that he was on duty when Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name, Ketsana) inundated a large portion of Metro Manila in 2009.

“That is the most memorable for me because we did not take our eyes off rivers which might overflow. We continuously monitored the Marikina River overnight and identified places which may be affected by flashfloods, so we can warn the public and for them to make precautionary measures.”

“It is satisfying for me when you have released advisories or warnings for a looming storm and possible flashfloods in a certain place.”

‘Para sa bayan’

While experienced hydrologists are in demand overseas, Jayson said that he has no plans of working abroad.

He said that should he eventually decide to leave the country, he first wants to see their division fully established.

“Para sa bayan muna,” he said.

THE SEARCH IS ON "BANTOG" THE SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE MEDIA AWARD

BANTOG AWARDS

The Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), the information arm of the Department of Science and Technology, aims to strengthen its partnership with the media through the recognition of the media’s contributions in the promotion of science and technology information either as an individual or as an institution, whether public or private sector. DOST-STII also acknowledges the significant role of DOST regional information officers in helping achieve the Department’s thrust of promoting S&T information and bringing science for the people.

Bantog: The Science for the People Media Awards is given in recognition for the important role of media practitioners (print, radio, TV, and online), in government and private practice, who made significant contributions to the promotion of science and technology information.

CATEGORIES

Bantog has four categories. The Institutional Media Award is given to an institution or organization that has served as a vital link between the science and technology (S&T) sectors and its clients through informative advocacy. Meanwhile, the Outstanding S&T Journalist Award is given to an individual media practitioner who has been an ardent advocate of science and technology whether in print, broadcast or online. Further, the Outstanding Regional Media Practitioner Award is given to an enthusiastic regional media personality who has shown strong support in promoting science and technology information. Finally, the Outstanding Information Officer Award is given to exemplary information officers in DOST working in the area of communication production and dissemination.

GUIDELINES

Nominees should be Filipinos or Filipino-owned media companies which have broadcast and published S&T information in January 2017-March 2018. Nominees for individual practitioners from print, broadcast, and online media shall be judged according to substance, form, style, relevance of works and additional requirements by the board of judges. Meanwhile, nominees for institutional awards shall be judged according to innovativeness, relevance, and commitment to S&T reportage. The DOST Information Officer Award shall be based on his/her accomplishments in print, broadcast, online media, and public relations.

PRIZES

All Bantog awardees shall receive trophies while the individual category winners shall receive additional cash prizes. The Outstanding S&T Journalists for online, print, radio, and TV will all take home P100,000; P50,000; and P25,000 for the first, second, and third prizes respectively. The sole winner of Outstanding Regional Media Practitioner will receive P50,000 and the Outstanding DOST Information Officers will get P30,000; P20,000; and P10,000.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Candidates can either apply or be nominated with the following requirements to Public Affairs Unit, CRPD, STII Building, DOST Complex, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, on or before April 30, 2018:

Fully accomplished nomination form
Comprehensive bio-data
Copies of published write-ups, articles or programs on S&T.

Please submit seven (7) copies of the said requirements for each entry.

For queries and further information on Bantog Awards, please contact STII Public Affairs Unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (02) 837-2071 local 2146 or mobile no. 09493039998 and look for Ms. Ma. Lilibeth P. Padilla.

Improving the survival rate of mud crab

By: Julio Yap Jr.

Monday, April 30, 2018

THROUGH the use of formulated feeds and natural food, the survival rate of mud crab from zoea to megalopae and zoea to crab instar has significantly improved.

The improvement was realized under a project entitled “Improvement of Larval Rearing Protocol,” which is implemented by the Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/AQD) and is led by Dr. Emilia T. Quinitio of the said agency.

The project is being funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Data showed that the survival rate from zoea to megalopae has significantly improved from 3.75 percent to 22.5 percent, while the survival rate from zoea to crab instar has improved from 1.0-3.5 percent to 6 percent.

At present, basic hatchery technology has been developed in the country, however, a number of farms are still experiencing low survival rate during the megalopae stage due to Molt Death Syndrome (MDS).

It is a disease due to luminescent bacteria (Vibrio spp.).

It was learned that antibiotics are still being used to treat Vibrio spp., however, incorrect use of antibiotics can cause incomplete molting, deformities, slow growth, and even death.

Vibrio spp. is dominant in marine environments and can cause seafoodborne infections.

Furthermore, mud crab farmers in the country are experiencing lack of crab seeds for farming from the wild due to over exploitation.

To address over exploitation, the project aims to introduce the need to manage available resources and produce seed stocks in the hatchery for a sustainable mud crab industry.

This would also reduce the dependence of mud crab farmersregarding the sourcing of seed stock from the wild.

To reduce the occurrence of MDS, the zoea is fed with formulated feeds and natural food.

The use of natural food or rotifiers was reduced by as much as 50 percent.

For the natural food, minced fish or mussel can replace Artemia as feed during megalopae stage.

On the other hand, in terms of antibiotic use, the project compared the performance of antibiotics, antimicrobial, nitrofuran, disinfectant, therapeutant, and probiotics in larval rearing.

However, the project showed that the proper use of antibiotics, specifically furazolidone and oxytetracycline, is still the most effective way of preventing or treating diseases in mud crab.

To further equip the farm owners and different local government agencies, 22 collaborators and stakeholders were trained on the improved hatchery technology at the SEAFDEC/AQDin their respective sites.

Moreover, at least 13 mud crab hatcheries (9 are privately owned, 2 with the local government unit (LGU), 2 with state universities and colleges or SUCs) were established all over the country.

These hatcheries have been producing crablets that will help sustain the mud crab industry.

In Guindulman, Bohol, a prototype commercial-scale hatchery has already been turned over to the LGU.

This hatchery can produce about 40,000 crab instars per run.

The project is part of the National Mud Crab Science and Technology(S&T) Program, which is being monitored by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of DOST (DOST-PCAARRD). (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./PN)