Research Utilization

DOST-FPRDI, DOST-IX, TARBEMCO ink pact to use senile rubberwood trees

L-R: Mr. Aljon A. Embores (LGU-Naga representative), Ms. Marry Joy P. Flores (PRRI representative), Director Martin A. Wee (Regional Director, DOST-IX), Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan (Director, DOST-FPRDI), Petronilo G. Licudan (Chairman of the Board, TARBEMCO), Director Al-Zamir I. Lipae (OIC, Provincial Director, Department of Trade and Industry- Zamboanga Sibugay) and Ms. Ma. Socorro A. Sta. Teresa (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-IX representative).

The DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) recently teamed up with government and private groups to push for the optimal use of old rubberwood trees in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Representatives of the DOST-FPRDI, DOST-IX, Tambanan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (TARBEMCO) and other regional stakeholders gathered last 21 March 2018 for the launch of the project “Processing and Utilization of Senile and Unproductive Rubberwood(Heveabraziliensis) Trees for the Production of High Value Furniture, Mouldings and Joineries”. This 3-year initiative costs Php 57 million and is funded by the DOST-GIA.

In the Philippines, senile rubberwood trees are used for making low-value products such as fuelwood, pallets and crates. In Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, however, the material is made into higher value items: housewares, housing components and composite boards. With 210 hectares of old rubberwood trees, TARBEMCO plantations are expected to yield 31,500 cubic meters of valuable lumber.

According to Project Leader Engr. Victor G. Revilleza, “To maximize the use of this resource, we aim to establish a complete line of rubberwood processing facilities from timber harvesting to finishing; generate technical information and technologies on its preservative treatment; determine the financial viability of production operations; prepare promotional materials to encourage its use, and train woodworkers on processing techniques to produce high-value products.”

After the event, the stakeholders visited the newly renovated TARBEMCO building (photo above) in Brgy. Tambanan, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay, which will house the rubberwood processing facilities. Newly purchased mobile sawmill and various woodworking equipment were also presented to the team. ### (Juliemar Purificacion, 03 April 2018)

30 Capiceños pass DOST scholarship exam

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A total of 30 senior high school students from Capiz passed the recent scholarship examinations of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Capiz DOST Information Officer Juafe Abareles said the passers of the DOST- Science Education Institute scholarship graduated this school year.

Four other passers hail from Capiz but were enrolled in Iloilo City schools.

The Capiceño passers are among the 630 senior high school students in Western Visayas and 8,994 qualifiers to the DOST scholarship examination for school year 2018-2019.

Abareles said each scholar will enjoy the P7,000 monthly stipend rate.

“On top of this, they are also entitled to tuition fee subsidy, book allowance, MS/PE clothing allowance, one economy-class roundtrip fare per year for those studying outside of their home province, and group accident insurance,” she said.

In a press release, the DOST said that out of the total number of passers nationwide, 5,172 qualified as scholars under the Republic Act 7687 Scholarship Program which is a scholarship for gifted students who belong to economically disadvantaged families while the 3,822 passed under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program. (PIA-Capiz)

DOST-backed R&D centers in four Visayas universities

BACOLOD City — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has funded various research and development initiatives of universities in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) through its “Science for Change (S4C) Program”.

Both DOST-6 Regional Director Rowen Gelonga and DOST-7 Regional Director Edilberto Paradela discussed these efforts under the “Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program” during a press briefing in line with the two-day Regional Scientific Meeting held here recently.

Gelonga said through NICER, the DOST supports the establishment of specialized R&D centers in a region with the thrust to build capability also outside the Metro Manila and Calabarzon (Region 4) area.

In Western Visayas, there are two approved NICER centers for 2017 to 2018.

One center is located at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas in in Miagao, Iloilo which involves two projects — an aquaculture center and a food safety research center.

A specialized center for packaging technology is being operated by the Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo City.

Gelonga said CPU is the only university in Southeast Asia that offers a degree in packaging engineering.

“We are slowly strengthening the curricular offering by expanding our presence in R&D,” he added.

Gelonga said that in Negros Occidental, the DOST is working out proposals with Carlos Hilado Memorial State College and Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas to host R& D centers specializing in metals and fabrication to address the demand of the sugar industry and the food processing sector.

In Central Visayas, Paradela said the department has approved two NICER projects.

One is based in Cebu Technological University (CTU), which has research centers on biodiversity and biotechnology hosted by its two campuses.

Another center, located in UP Cebu, involves data analytics data storage.

Through the NICER program, the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute seeks to capacitate higher educational institutions in the regions, through an institutional grant for R&D activities that will make significant improvement in regional research and S&T infrastructure. (NLG/PNA)

Opisyal na paglulunsad ng field testings nang Carrageenan PGP sa mga pangunahing rehiyong nagtatanim ng Palay at Mais

OPISYAL NA PAGLULUNSAD NG FIELD TESTING NG CARRAGEENAN PGP SA MGA PANGUNAHING REHIYON NA NAGTATANIM NG MAIS AT PALAY

March 28, 2018- Opisyal nang inilunsad sa Los Banos Laguna kamakailan ang proyektong nagbigay ng katiyakan sa bisa ng carrageenan bilang plant growth promoter (PGP) para sa mais at palay. Mga opisyales kasama ng mga dalubhasa buhat sa Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Crop Protection Center of the College of Agriculture at Food Science of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (NCPC-CAFS, UPLB), kasama ang DA/DOST Regional Offices in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4a, 6, 9, and 11, ay isina pinal ang kasunduan kasabay ng isang pagpupulong na ginanap sa DOST-PCAARRD headquarters.

May titulong “Field Verification of Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter (PGP) for Enhanced Growth and Induced Pest and Disease Resistance in Rice and Corn” ang proyekto ay magko conduct ng field testing nang Carrageenan PGP sa mga lugar na pangunahing nagpo prodyus ng bigas at mais sa bansa.

Layunin ng proyekto na pag ibayuhin ang rice productivity ng bansa at mabawasan ang production cost ng mga Filipino rice farmers. Magpo pokus ito sa pag enhance ng crop health and resiliency laban sa mga peste at sakit ng palay sa pamamagitan ng pag a apply ng carrageenan PGP.
Ang Carrageenan PGP, isang teknolohiyang buhat sa Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), ay napag alamang mataas sa potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), at calcium (Ca), na nakatutulong mapag ibayo ang paglaki development, at immune system ng palay

Upang ma-beripika ang effectiveness nito bilang foliar spray, nakipagtulungan ang DA and DOST upang ma monitor at magsagawa ng mga field test results sa mga pangunahing lugar nang bansa na nagpo prodyus ng palay

Susubukin rin ng grupo ang efficacy ng teknolohiya upang makapag induce ng resistance laban sa tungro virus sa mga inbred rice, bacterial leaf blight (BLB) sa hybrid rice, insect pests such gaya ng green leaf hopper (GLH), brown plant hopper (BPH), rice stem borer, cutworm, at armyworm. ang kaugnayan sa population density ng mga beneficial arthropods, na kumo kontrol sa rice pest population ay kabilang rin sa i-evaluate.

Pangungunahan ni Dr. Gil L. Magsino, Director ng NCPC-CAFS, UPLB ang implimentasyon ng proyekto habang si Dr. Lucille V. Abad, Chemistry Research Section Head of DOST-PNRI, ang magsu supply ng carrageenan PGP para sa pitong rehiyon. “Rice production can increase by 15–40% depending on the response of rice to the prevailing environmental conditions,” ayon kay Magsino. Sa pagti test sa effectiveness ng carrageenan PGP sa mais, ipinaliwanag ni Magsino na tanging UPLB at Region 2 ang magsisilbing mga experimental sites.
Hinikayat rin ni Magsino ang mga agriculture extension workers na sanayin nila ang mga magsasaka sa paggamit ng teknolohiya dahil makakatulong sa kanila ito ng malaki. Ayon naman kay Abad, ipinaliwanang niya na ang carrageenan PGP ay makapag e-stabilize at least isang buwan pagkaraang ma proseso. Dagdag pa niya na ang kinakaing seaweed na ginamit sa produksyon nito ay inangkat dahil sa batas na nagbabawal na anihin ito sa bansa.

Sa pamamagitan ng nasabing proyekto, mababawasan ang paggamit ng mga magsasaka ng pestisidyong kemikal sa rice cropping season, at sinasabing makaradagdag sa kanilang kita? inaasahan naman ni Dr. Candido B. Damo ng DA Central Office na ang mga mananaliksik ng DA-DOST ay makapagde deliver ng kinakailangangoutputs para sa proyekto. Iba pang mga representante buhat sa DOST-PCAARRD, DA/DOST Regional offices at NCPC-CAFS, UPLB ay naroon din sa aktibidad. buhat sa impormasyong galing kina Joel Norman R. Panganiban, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service (MJ Balaguer, 09053611058, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

36th PCHRD anniversary fetes social innovations in health research

LADYLOVE MAY B. BAURILE

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes social innovations as “novel ways to implement comprehensive solutions by engaging and collaborating with actors across hierarchies and sectors.”

On its 36^th anniversary, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) will highlight social innovations in health research. The celebration will take place on 16 March 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

According to Dr. Jaime Montoya, PCHRD Executive Director, the Council wants to discuss and emphasize relevant researches that empowers individuals and communities to achieve their optimum potential.

“In the current innovation ecosystem, there is a gap on what we think is the best way of ensuring that innovations will benefit our community. Social innovation is the key as it provides unique lens to tackle complex healthcare delivery challenges as well as combine best practices across range of disciplines,” Dr. Montoya explained.

Highlight of the program is the recognition of good social innovation practices in health including the winners of the 2017 Search for PHL Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Solutions. The Call aims to honor innovations that demonstrate inclusivity, affordability, and effectiveness in health care in the country.

A panel discussion will also be held to discuss opportunities and appropriate frameworks for social innovation in health research. Invited panelists include University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Professor Noel Juban, UP School of Economics Professor Aleli Kraft, Ateneo De Manila University Institute of Philippine Culture Research Associate Dennis Batangan, and Surigao del Norte Municipality of Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, and UP Manila Professor Mary Ann Lansang are expected to grace the event.

PCHRD is the national coordinating and monitoring body for health research. For the updated program, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook (/dostpchrd) and follow us on Twitter (@DOST_PCHRD)!