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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)
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A team of scientists at the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) led by Dr. Blessie A. Basilia has come up with a biodegradable food packaging material that protects food and extends its shelf while being kind to the environment. This is made possible, according to Dr. Basilia, via the science called nanotechnology in which things are structured at the atomic and molecular levels.
The biodegradable film is made from starch and clay, both locally available materials, said Basilia who is chief of ITDI’s Material Sciences Division.
Clay comes in layers tightly held together, so it is processed first so that it can blend effectively with starch. In Basilia’s work, clay is treated with ions in a process called ion exchange which results in wider spaces between the layers of the clay. This treated clay is called organoclay or nanoclay, its commercial name.
Nanoclay is blended with thermoplastic starch made from cornstarch to help increase the latter’s strength. The clay-plastic blend goes through the same process and equipment in making petroleum-based plastics.
The resulting product passed the migration test required for packaging films which means that the materials in the product will not contaminate the food it is in contact with.
Plastic food packaging protects and extends shelf life of food and offers convenience to consumers. However, plastics are not biodegradable and pose harm to the environment. When disposed of indiscriminately, plastics clog waterways and contribute to flooding. Plastics that find their way to oceans cause serious harm to marine wildlife which mistake them for food.
Thus this DOST-developed green packaging technology will not only help address the disposal of food packaging wastes but will also benefit the packaging and plastic industries in the country.
Nanotechnology is one of DOST’s priority among emerging technologies through its sectoral council Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development which funded and monitored the project.
Biodegradable packaging and cutleries made from starch-clay can help address pollution brought about by petroleum-based plastics.
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DOST, Oriental Mindoro ink MOA for Hydromet Project. The ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the local government units of Calapan City, Baco, Naujan, Victoria and Bansud in Oriental Mindoro for the Hydromet Project officially starts the development of weather tracking devices to monitor the Calapan River Basin during heavy rains and floods. The Hydromet Project is a key component of Project NOAH, a flagship program of DOST which seeks to provide science-based and technology-driven disaster management and prevention solutions. Shown in photo during the signing are (from left): DOST Assistant Secretary and Science and Technology Information Institute Director Raymund Liboro, Naujan Mayor Hon. Ma. Angeles Casubuan, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator for Victoria Caroline Manuel, Municipal Engineer of Baco Engr. Evan Aceveda, and DOST-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina Abilay. Oriental Mindoro, one of the provinces in the MIMAROPA region, committed to install 16 weather tracking devices. (Photo by Gerry Palad; Text by Angelica A. de Leon, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), thru DOST-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina P. Abilay and Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro, concurrent director of the DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with officials of Oriental Mindoro for the Hydromet Project, a component of Project NOAH or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards.
The ceremonial MOA signing took place last April 16, 2013 in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the 2nd Regional Contest and Exhibits – MIMAROPA held at the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Project NOAH is one of DOST’s centerpiece programs which fuses science and technology to come up with high-impact disaster management and prevention solutions. The Hydromet Project dovetails with this aim by using state-of-the-art weather tracking equipment to provide a better picture of the country’s surface waters. Data from said equipment will help experts and leaders make informed decision during severe weather conditions and floods.
The project is being implemented by DOST with the local government units of Calapan City, Baco, Naujan, Victoria, and Bansud in Oriental Mindoro – one of the provinces comprising the MIMAROPA region or Region IV-B.
Under the Hydromet Project, DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute, will develop weather tracking equipment such as automated rain gauges, water level monitoring sensors, and automated weather stations. These devices will be installed all over the Philippines, especially along the country’s 18 major river basins.
In the case of Oriental Mindoro, said equipment will be installed at the Calapan River Basin which runs through the capital city of Calapan and the municipalities of Baco, Naujan, Victoria, and Bansud.
During the National Consultative Meeting on the Hydromet Project held at the DOST Region 2 office in Tuguegarao from April 15-16, 2013, Region IV-B has committed to install 16 weather tracking devices in 16 sites all over the region. Of this number, nine are automated rain gauges while seven are water level monitoring sensors.
As of April 17, 2013, all 17 regions in the country have committed to build a total of 525 devices in 427 identified installation sites.
“Under the project, we are under strict orders of President Aquino to install a total of 500 weather tracking equipment by the end of May, or if worse comes to worst, by mid-June, covering the whole country,” said Project NOAH staff Alan Taule.
Of the total number of devices indicated in the summary report, more than 400 have already been put in place. “However, there are still many parts of the Philippines where installation sites have yet to be identified. But at present, I believe we are on track,” said Taule.
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Certain types of bacteria may help in waste water cleanup, according to a Department of Science and Technology funded study.
The team headed by Prof. Arlene Llamado of the University of the Philippines Los Baños isolated five bacteria cultures from soils of an abandoned mine site in Mogpog, Marinduque to determine if these can form biofilms. Then the team assessed the bacteria’s potential in wastewater treatment applications.
Biofilms are the slimy substances secreted by certain types of bacteria, just like the slime on un-brushed teeth or the film on top of left-over soup. In hospital settings, biofilm-forming bacteria are notorious in spreading hospital-acquired infections because they are resistant to antibiotics and cleaning agents.
However, the researchers wanted to take advantage of the ability of microorganisms to form biofilms because they are negatively charged therefore they can attach to positively charged metal ions.
“By the simple idea of negatively charged polymers attaching to positively charged ions, we actually have a potential to remove heavy metal ions from waste water,” explained Prof. Lllamado.
She further explained that they collected samples from a mined out site where there is low concentration of organic elements and high concentration of copper, because they expected that bacteria living in these soils would have resistance to heavy metals.
All of the bacteria samples isolated from the site exhibited ability to produce biofilms. Further evaluation showed that all of these isolates were capable of removing heavy metals in water-copper solution. The planktonic cells of each bacterial isolate ate up the copper within six hours of contact time.
Since actual wastewaters may contain multiple metals, the team also tested the isolates in mixed metal solution containing copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc. Results revealed that three out of the five isolates decreased their efficiency in removing copper when exposed to mixed metal solution. Interestingly, one of the isolates called NV17 has shown dramatic increase in its ability to remove copper in multi-metal solution. However, Professor Llamado said that the reason for this occurrence was not yet tackled in the study.
Subsequent analysis of the bacteria revealed that the isolates NV112 an NV1A are species of Rhodococcus; NV17 and R11 are species of Bacillus, and NV2A is Pseudomonas sp.
Prof. Llamado revealed that further study is underway to test the ability of these bacterial isolates in removing metals in actual wastewater.
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