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A proposed bill that seeks to roll out mature and potentially important technologies generated by government-funded researches to the market was finally enacted into law recently after almost three years into legislation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 10055, otherwise known as “An Act Providing the Framework and Support System for the Ownership, Management, Use, and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Generated from Research and Development Funded by Government and for Other Purposes” or the “Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” into a full fledged national statute on March 23 at the Malacañan Palace. The new law is expected to serve as the blueprint for a nationally coordinated technology transfer framework of government-funded researches.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said that the whole science community is overwhelmed with this development.

“We are optimistic that this new law, a landmark policy on technology transfer will revolutionize the commercialization of technologies generated by researches funded by taxpayer’s money,” Sec. Alabastro said.

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Study traces genetic origin of Asian people

 

We may differ in color, language, and ethnicity, but people in East and Southeast Asia have a deep connection: we share a common human origin. This is according to the study entitled “Mapping Human Genetic Diversity in Asia” by the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) Pan-Asian SNP (for “single nucleotide polymorphism”) Consortium.

The study which analyzed the genetic make-up of 73 populations across 10 Asian countries traced the routes likely taken by pre-historic Asians as they migrated from coast to coast.

Over 90 scientists worked together to trace the origin of people in said area, including Dr. Maria Corazon De Ungria, Gayvelline Calacal, Frederick Delfin, Jazelyn Salvador, Kristina Tabbada, Lilian Villamor, and Henry Perdigon of the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute in the University of the Philippines Diliman; and Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz and Dr, Carmencita Padilla of the Institute of Human Genetics - National Institutes of Health (IHG-NIH) of the University of the Philippines Manila.

The study supported a single wave of migration into Asia, raising questions on earlier theories of multiple inflows from both northern and southern routes into Asia. East Asians, according to the study, mainly originated from Southeast Asia with some minor traces from the Central-South Asian groups. The study suggests that people from China, Hong Kong, Japan, North and South Korea, and Taiwan mainly came from Southeast Asia – perhaps Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, or the Philippines.

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This figure shows plausible routes of pre-historical migration of Asian human populations. According to the study, the most recent common ancestors of Asians arrived first in India (aqua-green). Later, some of them migrated to Thailand, and South to the lands known today as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The first group of settlers must have gone very far south before they settled successfully. These included the Malay Negritos (brown), Philippine Negritos (purple), the East Indonesians, and early settlers of the Pacific Islands (dark green). Thereafter, one or several groups of people migrated North, mixed with previous settlers there and, finally, formed various populations we now refer to as Austronesian (light green), Austro-Asiatic (red), Tai-Kadai (dark blue), Hmong-Mien (light blue), and Altaic (yellow) etc.

 

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The Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) awarded the winners of the 8th Regional S&T Fora and Competitions for the NCR, Luzon and Visayas–Mindanao (Vis-Min) Cluster last February 24, 25 & 26 respectively at the FNRI Training Room, Science Community Complex, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City .

agging the first prize for the National Capital Region cluster is Maria Gracia Peralta from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) with her study entitled “Non-Cyanide Electroplating Technology.” The gold plating technology’s winning feature is its non-use of cyanide, an environmentally unsafe compound. Placing second and third respectively are Shalom Brian Mercader of the College of Engineering, UP-Diliman for the study entitled “The Design and Evaluation of an Ozone Contractor-Reactor for Color and Organic Matter Removal in Distillery Wastewater” and Dr. Susan M. Gallardo of Asian Regional Research Programme on Environmental Technology, De La Salle University for her paper on the “Development of Windrow Composting as an Alternative Sludge Management for a recycled Paper Mill in the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) ruled the Luzon Cluster competition with the FPRDI’s research “Development and Commercialization of Locally Designed Moisture Meter.” The study determines the amount of moisture found in wood to check the material’s suitability for furniture making. The second prize was awarded to Prima Fe R. Franco of the Mariano Marcos State University for the study entitled “First and Second Generation Bioethanol Production from Sweet Sorghum Using Locally Isolated Micro-organisms.” Engr. Belen Bisana, also of the FPRDI, got the third prize for the study “Bamboo Veneer Lathe Technology Innovation for Commercialization.”

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open the exhibit for the 28th anniversary of the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCIERD-DOST) March 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila. Assisting her are DOST Secretary Estrella Albastro (right) and Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, Jr. (left). In her keynote speech later in the program, Pres. Arroyo hoped the next administration will continue to support the science sector by allocating more funds for research and development (R&D) and human resource development. During her term, Arroyo infused P5 billion for R&D, including P1 billion for the National Science Complex in UP Diliman and 100,000 scholarship slots for science and engineering. Arroyo congratulated PCIERD-DOST for its various projects that advance science and technology, the two important factors that will propel the country’s growth, she said. (S&T Media Service)

 

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“Drawing in Young Researchers into the Regional Health Research Systems” will be the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s (PCHRD) theme for its anniversary this year to be held March 19 at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila. PCHRD is one of the five sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro will give the opening message and Department of Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral will be the anniversary keynote speaker.

Highlight of the program is a panel discussion on the role of young researchers in sustaining regional and national health research systems. The panelists will share their experiences as researchers and how they grew in their research career. Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of the Philippine Science High School - West Visayas Campus, will set the tone of the panel discussion.

  1. PCIERD announces qualifiers for 8th Regional S&T Fora and Competitions
  2. Abra’s healthy noodles
  3. DOST’s SET UP gives P114 million funding in 2009
  4. DOST council fetes best thesis, dissertation winners