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As a continuing effort in reinforcing the role of science and technology in the ASEAN region, the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST) was held last 06-07 November 2009 in Singapore. The ASEAN S&T Ministers reviewed and discussed the progress of the various projects stemming from the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology (APAST) and other initiatives that contribute to the building of the ASEAN region.

The APAST identifies Flagship Programmes and their respective lead countries, namely: Biofuels (Malaysia), Early Warning System for Disaster (Indonesia), Open Source System (Indonesia), Functional Food (Thailand), Health (Singapore), and Climate Change (Philippines/Viet Nam).

The Ministers lauded the efforts of the lead countries in finalizing the roadmaps. They tasked the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST) to develop the groundwork for its implementation. Moreover, the Ministers directed the ASEAN COST to use the ASEAN Science Fund (ASF), which currently has reached 93% of the total expected target of USD 10 million to support the implementation of the roadmaps.

The 13th AMMST, chaired by H.E. S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry of Singapore, was attended by S&T Ministers and Senior Officials from the 10 ASEAN Member Countries. H.E. Dato’ Misran Karmain, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, also attended the meeting. It was held back to back with the 58th Meeting of the ASEAN COST and its different Sub-Committees.

The Ministers are set to meet in the 6th Informal AMMST to be held in Thailand in November 2010.

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National Invention Contest Week. Department of Science and Technology Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro (2nd from left) looks intently at a demonstration of an invention following the opening of the National Invention Contest and Exhibits 2009 (NICE) at the Philippine Trade and Training Center, Pasay City. The annual celebration is in support of RA 7459 which aims to prop up local inventions and inventors through a national invention contest. Others in the photo are DOST Assistant Secretary Mario P. Bravo (3rd from left) and Manila 6th Dist. Representative Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. [Joy M. Lazcano, S&T Media Service]

 

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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.] 

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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.