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.”

For the Vis-Min Cluster Competitions, Engr. Alexis T. Belonio of the Central Philippine University’s “Continuous-Flow Rice Husks Gasifier for Thermal Applications” won the top prize. Maria Linda Arquiza of the University of Mindanao Research and Publication Center for “Prototype of an Alternative Telemetric System for Davao River” and Dr. Leilanie Suerte for “Magmatism and Hydrothermal System at the Kingking Porphyry Copper Deposit: An Insight into the Mineralization of the Copper-Gold Belt in Southeastern Mindanao Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 6” got the second and third prizes respectively.

The winners for each cluster received P125,000 (first prize); P100,000 (second prize); and P75,000 (third prize). The regional winners move up to the National Level competitions which will be held on March 16, 2009 at the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Meanwhile, all qualified entries were awarded a certificate of participation and P10, 000.
Engr. Raul C. Sabularse , PCIERD’s Deputy Executive Director, opened the three-day competition and urged all the finalists to give their best and be counted for the national level.

The board of judges was headed by Dr. Rogelio A. Panlasigui, former Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary for Research and Development and current Director of the Office of Research, Development and Extension Services of the Far Eastern Air Transport Incorporated (FEATI) University. Entries were judged according to several criteria such as socio economic impact and opportunities, environmental impact, ease of adaptability and contribution to science and technology.

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