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The machining industry in the country is in good shape, a survey of the Department of Science and Technology’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center reveals.

The industry’s smooth running is apparently fueled by the steady demand of the manufacturing and other industries, reflecting a vigorous economy that attracts investors.

“We are happy with this development as it mirrors the modest contribution of the DOST to the machining industry,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said, referring to the support of DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center to the industry.

MIIRDC is the sole government institution directly supporting the metals and engineering industry, including the machining sector, through services that enhance their competitive advantage. Along with the machining and manufacturing sector, DOST-MIRDC also caters to the automotive/transport, industrial machinery, agriculture, metalworking, and construction industries.

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Department of Science and Technology directors dominated the 2010 GAWAD Career Executive Service (CES), as three DOST executives out of the four awardees received the prestigious presidential award conferred by President Benigno S. Aquino III on January 11, 2011 at the Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace.

Awardees were Dr. Patricio Faylon, executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development; Dr. Urduja Tejada, regional director of DOST Region 2; and Engr. Denis Villorente, director of the Advance Science and Technology Institute. The other awardee was Undersecretary Mario Villaverde of the Department of Health.

“The recognition proves the point that we have excellent people leading the DOST agencies,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said. “The accomplishments of our awardees show how science and technology helps in improving our country’s delivery of its services.”

The awarding body recognized Dr. Faylon’s visionary leadership that pushed PCARRD-DOST to attain the Philippine Quality Award Level 1 (Commitment to Quality Management) in 2009 and subsequently obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification. PCARRD was the first DOST agency to obtain the ISO certification. As such, Malacañan acknowledged PCARRD as one of the 43 government agencies that implement a quality management system in compliance with the ISO 9001 standards. Faylon also established the Techno Gabay Program, a technology transfer modality that delivers much needed information and technologies to the countryside. It has been adopted by local government units in their agricultural extension programs.

DOST execs shine in Gawad CES Awards. The Department of Science and Technology dominated the 2010 Gawad CES Awards as three of its directors bagged the prestigious presidential award conferred by President Benigno S. Aquino III on January 11, 2011 at the Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace. With Pres. Aquino are the awardees (L-R) Engr. Denis F. Villorente, director of DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute; Dr. Urdujah A. Tejada, director of DOST Region 2; Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, director of DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development; and Dr. Mario C. Villaverde, undersecretary of the Department of Health. (S&T Media Service)

Dr. Tejada was distinguished for initiating and successfully implementing community- based projects, including a number of hatcheries, grow-out ponds, and fish feed mills, and a training center for fishery products that helped move forward the aquaculture industry in the region. She was also responsible in reviving the peanut industry in Jones, Isabela and the conversion of coco wastes into useful products in Region 2.

Engr. Villorente was recognized for his efforts in helping promote research networking in the country through the Philippine Research, Education and Government Information Network (PREGINET), a nationwide broadband research and extension network that links the government, academe, and research institutions in the country, providing a faster and more reliable collaboration among researchers and scientists. PREGINET also established internet connectivity to government agencies, enabling them to comply with the Government Information Systems Plan.

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Local fabrics from pineapple, banana, abaca, Philippine silk, and other natural fibers will be the focus of Fashionation 2011, a fashion show organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions. The fashion show, to be held February 24 at the Philippine Trade Training Center, Pasay City, is an offshoot of the celebration of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Day on January 24.

President Benigno S. C. Aquino III declared January 24, 2011 as PTF Day under Proclamation No. 86 signed on December 21, 2010 to push for the implementation of Republic Act 9242 or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004.

“The PTF Day will mark a milestone in the awareness on the development of Philippine tropical fabrics. PTRI-DOST has been in the forefront of continuously generating tropical textile technologies and, currently, we need investors to commercially produce local tropical fabrics,” explains Dr. Carlos C. Tomboc, director of the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (PTRI-DOST), the lead agency in the observance of the PTF Day.

PTRI will provide most of the tropical fabrics that will be used at the set of Fashionation 2011. The show, also supported by the Department of Agriculture’s Fiber Industry Development Authority and the Civil Service Commission, will feature Philippine tropical fibers and other locally manufactured fabrics as office uniforms. Government officials, business corporations, and representatives from the textile and garments industries will be invited to the show.

PTRI-DOST, the government’s lead agency in textile research and development, urges key players in the textile and garment industries and private entities to invest in the PTRI-developed fiber pretreatment and other textile-related technologies. To facilitate the adoption of technologies, PTRI developed and made available a package of textile technology options to help revive the local textile and garment industries, and create livelihood in the agricultural and industrial sectors. PTRI also encourages the public to patronize local tropical fibers for home textiles, office uniforms, formal wear, and chic ensembles on catwalks, among other uses. (Arlene R. Obmerga, S&T Media Service)

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When weather monitoring instruments are stolen, people especially those living in areas vulnerable to floods and landslides are robbed of a chance to prepare against climate induced disaster.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo said the safety of individuals and communities is a responsibility that must be shared by the government, local authorities, and private sectors.

That responsibility includes storming the communities with awareness drive down to the village level on the life saving function and importance of weather monitoring instruments in predicting typhoon, rain and flood risks, landslides, and related climate hazards.

Montejo expressed alarm over recent reported incident of stolen or missing flood warning sensors attributed to DOST’s weather forecasting arm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

But the missing copper grounding rod and grounding cable are not flood sensors as reported in media but serve as protection to the sensor to prevent short circuit, similar to the function of a lightning arrester. Those were actually under the care of Japan Radio Company Ltd., a project contractor of Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The four missing grounding equipment were attached to bridges in the towns of Bugallon, Sta. Maria, and Bayambang in Pangasinan province, and another in neighboring Tarlac City.

According to Hilario Esperanza, head of PAGASA’s Agno River Flood Forecasting Section, JICA was supposed to turn over the equipment to the weather agency and inaugurate it in March.