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Smarter technologies are beginning to move into Filipino households as the Department of Science and Technology ushers in its Smarter Philippines program. In fact, local experts are busying themselves developing technologies for smarter living.


So how about a recently-developed paint that makes your house bright and even rids out dirt and other microbial elements?


Put your brush up to the DOST - Industrial Technology Development Institute’s (DOST-ITDI) self-cleaning paint. The polymer paint is acrylic based and has the ability to prevent water and dirt from seeping into its surface. When applied on a concrete surface, it repels water and dirt, effectively “cleaning” itself.


The self-cleaning paint has titanium oxide and locally sourced silica which when exposed to ultraviolet ray exhibits its photocatalytic property. This means it breaks molecules of emission gases on its surface. This protects the paint from any discoloration due to organic microbes from gas emissions and oils.


It also repels water and lets liquid just flow on its surface without seeping into the paint, consequently carrying dirt such as dust particles, lipophilic dirts, and others.


The paint technology mimics the lotus and gabi plant leaves that have complex structures such that water droplets that land on the surface pick up particles as they flow out, minimizing adhesion of dirt on the leaves. Such characteristic is called the lotus effect.


Through nanotechnology, DOST-ITDI enhances this functional capability as it develops said environment-friendly paint. This innovation also prolongs the luster of the paint. This emerging paint technology is already in the market for some time in some countries. However, the premium price makes it unaffordable to most people.


According to Dr. Araceli Monzada of the Materials Science Division of DOST-ITDI, the locally developed self-cleaning paint will be more affordable than the commercially available paints when it reaches its commercial stage as it uses locally available additives.


The paint technology is expected to cut down annual maintenance costs significantly in buildings which will no longer require annual washing and periodic repainting to retain its luster. In Singapore, the cost of washing a building once a year is at SGD10,000 to SGD50,000 (P330,000 to P1.65M) and in some malls, washing is normally done quarterly. Because of the long retention of the paint’s luster, users save water to be used in washing. The less frequent washing will also minimize surface damages on the buildings caused mainly by strong detergents and high water pressure from water jets.


Currently, the paint is available only in white, but DOST-ITDI is set to develop other colors. Dr. Monzada also added that with the importance of this innovation, the institute plans to design the paint for use in the automotive industry.

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Over 40 high school students from different provinces had a fun S&T summer at the Department of Science and Technology’s Geo –Marine science camp held on April 27 –May 5, 2013 at Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental .


With the theme ”Rock the Ridge, Reach the Reef”, the said summer science camp was organized by DOST’s Science and Education Institute (SEI) in cooperation with University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute and University of the Philippines –National Institute of Geological Sciences.


Throughout the nine-day exposure, campers attended classes that included problem solving, research, critical thinking and communication skills incorporated with Biology, Meteorology, Geology and Marine Science facilitated by some UP-MSI and UP-NIGS staff.


Also embedded in the camp were significant activities such as coral reef exposures at Muelle Bay San Antonio Island, trekking, and community interaction in a Mangyan village.


The science camp aimed to encourage high school students explore geo and marine sciences and stress the value of pursuing degrees and careers in these fields while developing skills to achieve success in their chosen fields. At the same time, it aimed to promote the culture of research and its importance in addressing challenges in the environment and society.


Started in 2009, DOST-SEI’s science camp had encouraged skilled and gifted students in science and mathematics to consider S&T careers. Science camps held annually focused on various fields of S&T such as biology, mathematics, engineering. Boosted by its successful outcome, the camp extensively trained students from the Philippine Science High School campuses nationwide and selected science high schools in Metro Manila.

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Some 3,597 high school students who qualified as DOST-SEI undergraduate scholars for the incoming school year of 2013-2014 gathered recently for a ceremonial presentation at the Department of Science and Technology Compound in Bicutan, Taguig City. This year’s passers are 7.1% higher than the 3,359 number of qualifiers last year, according to DOST’s Science Education Institute.

DOST Sec. Mario G. Montejo said that this year’s huge number of qualifiers is a proof of the government’s growing commitment to science and technology.

“We are optimistic that these future big players will help us in creating S&T-based solutions for us to achieve a ‘smarter’ Philippines,” he said.

Sec. Montejo advised the students to work for their motherland in the future. “People who are from the S&T sector are the ones who can prove that local technology really works,” he said . “Sa pamamagitan ng S&T, magagawa natin putulin ang sarili mula sa foreign dependency,“ he added. (Through S&T, we can pull ourselves out of foreign dependency).

As the next generation of game changers, Montejo urged the scholars to use research development principles to produce more mass transit systems like the AGT in UP and other possible industries to create more value in the country.

“To look for a world class solution is to resolve our local problem,” he emphasized.

According to DOST-SEI, the number of municipalities with qualifiers also increased to 1,107 this year compared with 975 in 2012. From the total number of the 2013 passers, 3,089 belong to economically disadvantaged families who qualified under the RA 7687 Scholarship grants, while 508 students qualified for the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.

The qualifiers from the National Capital Region, about 10 percent of the total, were at the ceremony.

Meanwhile, SEI Director Filma G. Brawner believes that the country will be able to produce more S&T professionals through the implementation of various innovative strategies in developing human resources along with the different scholarship programs of the Institute.
“I believe that through the different scholarship programs of DOST-SEI, we are slowly inching towards meeting the ideal number of scientists and engineers per million population as well as in reaching our vision of a scientifically-equipped society,” Brawner said. “We are really pushing more graduates from a non progressive province.”

One of the highlights of the ceremony was when Dr. Salvador Caoili, a past scholar, took the podium to talk to the students about the essence of being an “S&T servant.” Dr. Caoili, a DOST-SEI scholar in 1989, is currently an associate professor of the College of Medicine University of the Philippines-Manila. He graduated summa cum laude from UP with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology.

Dr. Caoili stressed that scientists are not an elite group. “We need to reach out the people and tell them that S&T is not an alien thing,” he said.

The younger generation has the responsibility to link up science and yechnology in many aspects of life, according to Caoili. “Science is not distinct form culture, science is already stimulated from the time we were born.”

The DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Program is DOST’s response to its mandate of accelerating the pace of knowledge-driven development in accordance with the S&T human resource growth potential in the country.

Moreover, SEI is now announcing the 2014 S&T Undergraduate Scholarships. Application forms can be obtained at SEI or can be downloaded at its website, www.sei.dost.gov.ph and www.science-scholarships.ph. Deadline for filing of application and requirements is on August 23, 2013. The nationwide scholarship examination will be on September 22, 2013.





A number of this year’s science and technology scholars gathered at the Department of Science and Technology for a ceremonial presentation to Secretary Mario G. Montejo (middle) recently at the Executive Lounge in the DOST Compound. Some 3,597 high school students qualified for the DOST-Science Education Institute Undergraduate Scholarship for the incoming schoolyear 2013-2014, an increase of 7.1 percent from last year’s qualifiers. Known as R.A. 7687, the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994 aims to promote the development of the country’s science and technology human resources in line with economic development and to provide the capability required in the areas of research, development, innovation. At Sec. Montejo’s left side is DOST Usec. Carol M. Yorobe, SEI Dir. Filma Brawner, and UP Professor Salvador Caoili. At Sec. Montejo’s right is Asec. Oswaldo Santos. (S&T Media Service)

 

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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - MIMAROPA Regional Office announces the first qualifiers for the national level competitions for researchers and inventors set for 2014, as entries from Romblon, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro emerged as winners of the 2nd Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) for MIMAROPA last April 17, 2013 at the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

 

RICE-MIMAROPA is a project of DOST thru its attached agency, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) and DOST-MIMAROPA in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro, Local Government Unit of Calapan City, and Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT).

 

Copping the top prizes were: Veronica Pasion of Occidental Mindoro State College for her flavored salted egg products as Most Outstanding Utility Model, Engr. Orley Fadriquel of Romblon State University for his versatile Tigergrass Pollen Remover con Woodworking Machine as Most Outstanding Creative Research or LIKHA Award, Aira C. Antonio of Bansud National High School – Regional Science High School for MIMAROPA for her innovative RubBush Pusher with features that are useful for car suspension system maintenance as Most Outstanding Student Creative Research for High School, and Chrisna Alla Aira B. Busto of Occidental Mindoro State College for her entry, Varying Levels of Fermented Nami Extracts as Organic Insecticide on Rice Bugs, as Most Outstanding Student Creative Research for College. The last two student winners fall under the SIBOL Award for both high school and college categories.

 

The RICE - MIMAROPA leg, which opened on April 16 in Oriental Mindoro’s capital city, kickstarted the 2013 edition of the competition in various regions of the Philippines – a ramp-up to the national level contest of inventions to be held during the 2014 National Science and Technology Week, a major S&T activity in the country.

 

With the theme “Inventions and Innovations for a Smarter Philippines,” RICE aims to generate appreciation of local inventions especially those for practical use in daily living and thus have the potential for commercialization. On a larger scale, the event also seeks to discover world-class inventions which the Philippines can be proud of and can penetrate the international market.

“(The) government is here to assist you, but you have to come up with world-class products which can be winners and compete on the global stage,” said DOST Assistant Secretary and concurrently Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) Director Raymund Liboro during the opening ceremony. Asst. Secretary Liboro exhorted the participants to adopt a forward-thinking approach as researchers and inventors in order to produce high-impact inventions good enough for the global market. STII is DOST’s information and communication arm.

 

Dir. Liboro stressed that DOST is presently moving toward fresh directions which other sectors haven’t explored. In particular, the Department is now focusing its efforts on innovating for the poor such as tapping biodiversity to foster technological innovations for health initiatives such as lagundi-based medicines.

 

He emphasized, however, that government cannot do this alone. Instead, the innovation ecosystem, composed of the government, the private sector, and the academe, should join hands to assist and direct this innovation process – from the idea phase to the market phase of the product.

 

TAPI Invention Development Division Chief Dr. George M. Colorado echoed Dir. Liboro’s statements as he emphasized the need to intensify the country’s science and technology activities. “Technology is one single input which does not depreciate, no matter where you use it, whether in agriculture or any other sector. And this is what DOST is emphasizing,” Dr. Colorado remarked.

 

The winners, who received cash prizes among others, bested entries from other schools and universities in the MIMAROPA region which is composed of Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. They will represent MIMAROPA in the national championship in 2014.

 

 

2nd REGIONAL INVENTION CONTEST AND EXHIBITION IN MIMAROPA. The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon for the 2nd Regional Invention Contest and Exhibition in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro officially opened the MIMAROPA leg of the annual event leading to the national competitions set for 2014 during the National Science and Technology Week. Participating in the ceremony are (from left): Dr. Marfeo E. Marasigan, executive assistant of the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro; Dr. Teoticia C. Taguibao. regional director of the Commission on Higher Education-MIMAROPA; Raymund E. Liboro, DOST assistant secretary and director of the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute; and Dr. Ma. Josefina P. Abilay, regional director of DOST-MIMAROPA. The competition cum exhibition, which ran from April 16-17, 2013, attracted the participation of high school and university students, researchers, as well as startup and professional inventors. (Photo by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 

 

 

 

FLAVORED SALTED EGGS AS BEST UTILITY MODEL. The salted egg industry may be in for a heavy boost with the utility model developed by Veronica Pasion (2nd from left) of Occidental Mindoro State College, shown here receiving a Certificate of Recognition from Department of Science and Technology (DOST) -MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina P. Abilay. Pasion’s pioneering multi-flavored salted egg products were judged Most Outstanding Utility Model during the 2nd Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) - MIMAROPA held in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro from April 16-17, 2013. Developed using brine mixtures of herbs, spices, and various flavors, the eggs are delicious, hygienic, and free from artificial coloring, Also in photo are DOST-Oriental Mindoro Provincial Science and Technology Director Jesse Pine (far left) and Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) Invention Development Division Chief Dr. George M. Colorado (far right) among others. TAPI is an attached agency of DOST. Not in photo is Engr. Orley Fadriquel of Romblon State University whose Tigergrass Pollen Remover con Wood Working Machine was chosen as Most Outstanding Creative Research, also called the LIKHA Award. It is a portable, affordable, safe and health-friendly machine for mechanized production and processing of soft brooms made from tiger grass. This innovation will improve the quality of soft broom handles in Romblon and allow tiger grass production to generate P 3.6 M – P7.3 M in annual revenues. (Text by Angelica A. de Leon, Photo by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 

Pasion (left) shows off her flavored salted egg creations at her booth during the 2nd RICE-MIMAROPA in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. (Photo by Teddy Amante, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII).

 

 

Among the uniquely interesting salted egg flavors available are adobo and honey. (Photo by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 

CAR MAINTENANCE DEVICE IS BEST STUDENT CREATIVE RESEARCH FOR HS. Aira C. Antonio (3rd from right) of Bansud National High School – Regional Science High School for MIMAROPA receives a Certificate of Recognition from Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina P. Abilay, for her research work on the RubBush Pusher, an innovative device which aims to replace the environmentally harmful acetylene torch as a tool in the removal and installation of rubber bushing in vehicles. The RubBush Pusher is more economical and lessens time spent removing the worn-out rubber bushing and installing a new one, thus improving car systems maintenance processes. The device won for Antonio the Most Outstanding Student Creative Research for High School award, or the SIBOL Award during the 2nd Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) – MIMAROPA, held from April 16-17, 2013 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Also in photo are DOST-Oriental Mindoro Provincial Science and Technology Director Jesse Pine (far left), Runner-up Marionne Vida A. Rodil (4th from right), and Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) Invention Development Division Chief Dr. George M. Colorado (far right), among others. TAPI is an attached agency of DOST. (Text by Angelica A. de Leon; Photo by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 

Scrap metals and other materials needed in making the RubBush Pusher. (Photo by Teddy Amante, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 

INSECTICIDE VERSUS RICE BUGS IS BEST STUDENT CREATIVE RESEARCH FOR COLLEGE. An environmentally safe insecticide which effectively eliminates rice bugs – deadly pests that significantly affect farmers’ productivity and rice yield – may be in the works soon as Occidental Mindoro State College’s Chrisna Alla Aina B. Busto (4th from left) grabs the top prize for Most Outstanding Student Creative Research for College, also called the SIBOL Award, for her entry. Titled “Varying Levels of Fermented Nami Extracts as Organic Insecticide on Rice Bugs,” her research study emphasizes the benefits of nami extracts as organic insecticides over chemical insecticides, popularly used by today’s farmers but are detrimental to the environment. Shown in photo is grand prize winner Busto as she receives her Certificate of Recognition from Department of Science and Technology (DOST) -MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina P. Abilay, during the 2nd Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) - MIMAROPA held in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro from April 16-17, 2013. With them are DOST-Oriental Mindoro Provincial Science and Technology Director Jesse Pine (far left), Veronica Pasion (2nd from left) whose flavoured salted eggs won as Most Outstanding Utility Model, and DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) Invention Development Division Chief Dr. George M. Colorado (2nd from right), among others. (Photo by Gerry Palad /Text by Angelica A. de Leon, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 

Fermented nami extracts in 250, 500, and 750 ml, on exhibit during the 2nd RICE-MIMAROPA from April 16-17, 2013 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. (Photo by Teddy Amante, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)