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National Biotechnology Week 2009 to show life enhancing technologies, innovation

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Published: 17 November 2009

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Activities for this year’s celebration of the National Biotechnology Week would confirm that biotechnology is not only for scientists, policymakers, and farmers. Biotech, organizers assure, has something to offer to everyone.

The annual event adopted the theme “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan. Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran,” which will be held November 22-29, 2009 at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. It will highlight biotechnology breakthroughs in the country that are expected to attract strong interest from environmentalists, health enthusiasts, beauty buffs, entrepreneurs, decision makers, development advocates, and including activities for students and kids.

Opening ceremonies is set Nov. 23 followed by a press conference, a forum on business opportunities, and national council meeting of the Biotechnology Information and Organization Network.

Other activities during the week include (Nov. 24) BIONet National Congress, 2nd Malunggay Congress, and Scientific Forum, (Nov. 25) Biotech for Kids, Biotek Pangakabuhayan, DNA Forensic Workshop for  Officers of PNP’s Women and Children’s Desk, and Techno-mart, (Nov. 26) Seminar on Genetically Modified Drought-Tolerant Crops, Educational Forum for High School Students, and J. Burgos Awards for Biotech Journalism, (Nov. 27) National Biotech Conference for Teachers (Heritage Hotel, Pasay City), NIMBUS Scientific Conference and General Assembly 2009 and Techno-mart, (Nov. 28) Public Forum on Health (Newborn Screening and Vaccine) and Techno-mart, (Nov. 29) Public Forum on Biosafety, Public Forum on Avian and Swine Flu, and Techno-mart.

All activities will be held at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at the SM MOA, except for the National Biotech Conference for Teachers that will be held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

NBW build-up activities are also set throughout the country from June to November such as seminars, workshops, trainings, exhibits, investors’ forum, techno-demo, and educational fora.

Meanwhile, DOST’s Philippine Science High School system will hold educational fora on November 6 in Iloilo and November 23 in Davao to improve the understanding of secondary school students, teachers, and the public on current advances, issues, applications, and career opportunities in biotechnology.

Other important activities for November include the awarding of research fellowships in Nueva Ecija, and holding of the International Forum on Insect Resistance Management for GM (genetically modified) Crops.

This year’s NBW is led by the Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, and Department of Trade and Industry.

Participating non-government organizations include the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, Biotechnology Information and Organization Network Pilipinas (BIONet), Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center, and National Initiative for Multi-Disciplinary Bioinformatics Utilization Strategies.

[For more information on the 2009 NBW, please log on to http://nbw.stii.dost.gov.ph/  or call Dr. Virginia Novenario-Enriquez or Janet Polita of DOST’s Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development at (632) 837-2071 local 2102 or 2109.] 

RP-Korea agreement to set up modern disaster preparedness system in MM

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Published: 04 November 2009

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South Korea has committed to help the Philippines in disaster preparedness with a $3M grant that will be used to set up modern early warning and monitoring systems to be deployed in flood ravaged Metro Manila and adjacent municipalities.

The disaster preparedness technology package will include seven automatic weather stations, five water level gauging stations with video monitors for rainfall and flood forecasting system, 20 warning posts with emergency radio communication systems, and voice/fax/data communication systems along the Marikina river.  The package is facilitated through the Korea International Coordinating Agency, which also tucked in patrol and maintenance vehicles in the project.

KOICA and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, has recently completed the first phase of a community based early warning and monitoring system project in the province of Aurora, Jalaur river basin in Iloilo, and the Agus-Lake Lanao watershed in Lanao del Sur.

PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo said Aurora benefited from the automatic weather station installed during phase I of the EWS project during storm Ondoy’s onslaught where the province had zero casualty.

Read more: RP-Korea agreement to set up modern disaster preparedness system in MM

RP hosts 4th International ETV Forum

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Published: 29 October 2009

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The Philippines through the Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology will host the 4th International Environmental Technology Verification Forum and International Working Group on ETV Meeting on November 11-13 at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City. The country is the first ASEAN member to host this annual event.

The event’s theme is “ETV: Accelerating Technology Solutions to Climate Change.” The forum is a venue for sharing experiences on various countries’ implementation of ETV programs and exchange of ideas on how environmental technology performance verification can help address climate change issues. Participants include countries with ongoing ETV programs.

Forum participants are expected to outline key challenges of climate change at the regional level; identify programs and innovative technologies to mitigate and adapt to climate change; highlight the importance of ETV as a tool for accelerating the deployment of environmentally sound technologies; build alliances among participating countries towards mutual acceptance of data and international acceptance of ETV; and develop a plan of action among interested participants for future cooperation.

Topics during the plenary session/general debate include “Importance of Independent Environmental Performance Verification and Reporting”, and “Mechanism to Bridge Technology Transfer and Financial Gaps in Addressing Climate Change”.

Meanwhile, theme-based roundtable discussions will cover “Mitigation Limiting Future Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation Preparation for a better future, and International Cooperation on Common Issues”.  These sessions will be complemented with the presentation of ETV country case studies.
The IWG-ETV meeting will cap the event.