Biliran studes join DOST Scholarship exams

A total of one hundred twenty three (123) graduating high school students from around Biliran Province and nearby Leyte town flocked to Naval State University where the SY 2012-2013 DOST Scholarship Qualifying Examinations was conducted on November 20, 2011 from 7:00 AM to 6:00PM.

The students came from the different private and public high schools from the Division of Biliran and were members of the top 5% of the graduating class and those from special match and science classes of science accredited high schools.

If this examinees would pass the test, they will be considered DOST scholars who can avail free tuition and monthly stipend and other benefits in accredited universities around the country.

Micro-entrepreneurs in Biliran receive free consultancy

The MPEX Team with Ms. Lucy Dauz of DOST 8

Through the assistance of the Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX) Program of the Department of Science and Technology, five (5) new micro enterprises from around Biliran province will benefit through a free consultancy services from local and national experts.

DOST will provide the consultancy support fund to Naval State University to mobilize their experts to conduct technical, marketing, and management advises to improve the productivity of the firms.  These consultancy will run for six months where consultants submit short and long term recommendations to the MSME for enhancement of their firms in line with the business operational areas mentioned earlier.

The beneficiary enterprises are: San Rose Processed Food Products from Sampao, Almeria, Biliran producing milk candy and other related candy products; the Almeria Builders from Almeria, Biliran producing metal products such as steel windows, grilles, steel trusses and others; CM Furniture in Acaban, Culaba specializing in wood based furniture; the Ronnie Furniture Shop in Bulalacao, Kawayan, Biliran who develops bamboo based furniture; and Julyanna's Cakes and Catering Services on cake production.

DOST Regional Office No. 8 in coordination with the Naval State University organized two consultancy teams to handle these five clients. The teams will be supervised by Mr. Daniel Ariaso, the Vice President of NSU responsible for external affairs and extension related services.

SETUP approves 2 new projects for Biliran

A total of PhP355,000 worth of technology upgrading assistance has been released to two (2) micro enterprises in the Province of Biliran in the 3rd quarter of 2011. The financial support include the acquisition of new equipment to improve production efficiency and production volume and improve the packaging and labeling of their products.

Winconfel Suman from Naval, Biliran would soon be acquiring improved set of equipment for the processing of glutenous rice into the popular native delicacy from Naval - the "Balintawak suman." In the otherhand, JV Bakeshop from Kansanoc, Kawayan, Biliran will be improving their process of producing the sweet otap, a sugar coated pastry popular among Cebuanos.

The financial support aims to improve the production volume of the msmes by at least 20% from their current production. This support will economically result to increase revenue and will provide employment opportunity in the locality.
(Inset Photo: wrapping of balintawak suman in anahaw leaves)

Online Rain Monitor for Biliran is on

DOST-Biliran has completed the installation of the Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) in Naval, Biliran Province. The rain gauge is located at the back of the Biliran Provincial Capitol in Calumpang, Naval, Biliran. The automatic rain gauge uses the tipping bucket to collect the amount of rain in the location and automatically send the data to a central database managed by the DOST's Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).

The instrument helps to provide a real time assessment of the amount of water absorbed by the soil and assess potential flooding or landslides. It is therefore of great help in hazard mitigation and in other use requiring precipitation data. 

The ARG deployment is part of a nationwide project implemented by the Phillipine Atmospheric, Geophysical, & Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) and ASTI. In Biliran, the Provincial Government provided support with the use of the lot and security of the unit, while DOST Regional Office No. 8 provided the materials for installation and fencing.

Protect your creations, DOST tells inventors

Aside from encouraging Eastern Visayan inventors to get creative through inventions and innovations, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 8 underscored the importance of protecting their creations through intellectual property rights.

“Protect your products first before you sell them,” advised Dr. Edgar Garcia, DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute director, to inventors and student researchers who participated in the first ever Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) at the Robinson’s Place in Tacloban City August 22-25.
Protecting inventions, said Garcia, means applying for patent or intellectual property right of an inventor’s creation or product. Securing a patent protects the inventor from duplication of the product and entitles him or her royalties when the product is sold or commercialized. Read Full story here
(from dost.gov.ph by: Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service)

Phase II of citronella project in Biliran takes off

BEOMP consultant Engr. Jesus Villamil, inspects new distilling still

Another set of new citronella oil distilling equipment is about to be used by Biliran Essential Oil Manufacturing of Brgy. Bato, Biliran, Biliran Province after DOST provided the company the second phase of financial support for technology upgrading of its processing plant.

BEOM is the first success story of the SETUP program in Biliran province when it created income opportunity to the community through employment, improvement of its product quality, and increasing the production volume, on top of other economic parameters (see related article). Above all these indicators is the successful completion of the firm's refund of the financial support provided by DOST for the Phase I of equipment acquisition. DOST provided PhP 865,000.00 for the Phase II new equipment.

The equipment is ready for testing at the fabrication site in Kananga, Leyte who is supervised by BEOM consultant Engr. Jesus Villamil. "When tests will be completed the equipment will be transported to the plant site in Brgy. Bato for on-site testing and trial operation," Mr. Jesus Doyon Sr., BEOM propriator said. The new equipment is expected to replace the old distilling unit used by the firm when its operation started. The old unit had been inefficient due to frequent bug downs and repair. With the acquisition of the new unit, cost of maintenance will be reduced and production capacity of the plant will be optimized.

The new unit will now be working side by side with the distiller purchased during the phase I of the project

Ungale Handicrafts receives DOST SETUP assistance

Another micro-entrepreneur from Biliran has received support for technology acquisition to improve its production of gifts and holiday decor products (GHD). The Ungale Handicrafts of Brgy. Ungale, Kawayan, Biliran was among the latest MSMEs who benefitted the Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of DOST.

With the package of technical assistance is a financial component for acquisition of equipment worth Eighty Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Pesos (PhP 85,250). Ungale Handicraft owner Mr. Rodito Madrideo is grateful for the support which would enable his firm to acquire new sets of heavy duty sewing machine and embroidery machine to be used in the production of various handicraft products made of local fibers such as abaca and pandan leaves.

The support in turn aims to increase the production volume of the company by 30% from current production, generate additional employment of at least 6 persons, and increase income of the SME by 20%.

DOST Biliran launches community based projects

Two community based projects were launched on April 6 and 7, 2011 in Cabucgayan and Culaba towns of Biliran Province, respectively. These projects center on application of science and technology for improvement of municipal priority products (One Municipality One Product) by providing technology training, consultancy services, packaging and labeling, and establishment of common service facility. These would redound to creation of new business opportunities that would in turn result to employment generation and creation of alternative source of income for the community.

LGU-Cabucgayan received support for the Community Project for Process and product improvement of coconut wine (bahalina) which will benefit the "tuba" gatherers, the coconut farmers, and the wine processor who are members of the Cabucgayan Corn Farmers Association. The project aims to elevate the lowly bahalina into a better packaged wine at par with imported wine products. Meanwhile, LGU Culaba, with the Culaba Papaya Producers Association received support for Establishment of Common Service Facility for Processing of Papaya. The main product, papaya pickles will be improved in terms of quality and packaging with this project.

Ms. Mae Anne D. Reyes, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Executive Director of the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Unit of the Department of Science and Technology VIII, represented Engr. Edgardo M. Esperancilla, DOST-8 Regional Director in spearheading the ceremonial turn-over of the financial assistance to the recipient LGUs and their intended beneficiaries. With the DOST group are Provincial Director of Biliran, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos,  the DOST VIII GIA-Coordinator, Ms. Lucia P. Dauz,  DOST Biliran staff Engr. Ma. Catherine Gonda, SRSII and Mr. Teddy Abenido, SRA, and Mr. Dominic Abiabi of DOST-8.

Mayor Gemma G. Adobo of Cabucgayan and Mayor Enrico V. Uyvico of Culaba, also led the recipients who accepted the ceremonial check during the separate occasions that were held in the SB Hall of Culaba and in the Municipal Terminal of Cabucgayan. The Mayors stressed their gratefulness to the DOST Regional Office VIII, and expressed their commitments to push for the realization of the project objectives. LGU Cabucagayan received PhP176,000 in GIA assistance while LGU-Culaba received PhP214,000. The assistance covers the purchase of equipment and tools and label design development and execution for the target products.

DOST SEI Scholarship for SY 2011-2012 Passers for Biliran

Fifty seven (57) fourth year graduating students of SY 2010-2011 from Eastern Visayas qualifies the DOST Scholarships for the coming SY 2011-2012. Two came from Biliran province namely: Meriam Solar Celino of Cabucgayan National School of Arts and Trades, Cabucgayan, Biliran  and Ellen Joyce Bolences Nartia of Naval School of Fisheries, Naval, Biliran.

The examination was conducted last November 21, 2010 in testing centers nationwide.

Passers are advised to contact the DOST Regional Office No VIII, at Palo, Leyte through telephone numbers (053) 323-7111, (053)323-6356 for more details and further advise.

Naval feels slight quake

Naval, Biliran. A light tremor with a magnitude of 4.3 was felt this morning of March 28, 2011 in Biliran's capital town of Naval.

The quake was recorded at 6:29 AM and found to originate from the following coordinates:11.51ºN,124.38ºE - 6 kms. S 14° W of NAVAL (BILIRAN ISLAND). It has a shallow depth of 18km and of tectonic origin. The quake was also felt at Leyte, Leyte with magnitude of 3 and in Jaro and Capoocan, Leyte with magnitude of 2.0.

For further details you can visit Phivolcs by clicking this link.

No immediate radiation threat on PAR - PAGASA

PRESS RELEASE (March 14, 2011,6:00PM)

The Department of Science and Technology, thru PAGASA and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), is thoroughly monitoring the situation of the nuclear power plants in northern Japan in relation to the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami events.

The DOST-PAGASA has done several numerical simulations. The numerical model outputs predict the motion of air which may transport radiation from the Japanese nuclear power plant in the event of a nuclear fallout. The computed trajectories of air parcel for the next three days showed that radiation from the nuclear power plant will not affect any part of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

The trajectories as computed at different levels of the atmosphere show that the movements of air parcels are all towards the east of the country going to the Philippine Sea. Similarly, air parcels from the Japanese nuclear power plant are also predicted to move eastward of Japan going to the Pacific Ocean. The levels of the atmosphere where the trajectories are computed are specifically at 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 11 km above the surface. Furthermore, the prevailing winds during this month up to early to mid-May at all levels of the atmosphere over Japan and the Philippines are moving towards the northeast and east. This means that wind trajectories are going towards the Pacific Ocean side.

There is nothing to worry about any immediate effect of radiation in the Philippines at the moment. The DOST-PAGASA, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, will continue monitoring our air system and immediately inform the general public if there is an abrupt change in weather pattern over the region. Should you have any question, please call our DOST-PAGASA Weather Branch (9264258) for clarifications.

About false information on radiation from Japan

The text message circulated today about a radiation contamination reaching the Philippines is a hoax. Please visit the following links for more information:

DOST ADVISES THE PUBLIC NOT TO BELIEVE IN HOAX MESSAGES

No increase in radiation level DOST-PNRI assures public

New equipment for SETUP beneficiaries inspected

The DOST 8 Inspection committee conducting the inspection of the newly acquired tools and equipment for  two SETUP beneficiaries in Biliran Province

The DOST Inspection committee inspected on March 1, 2011 the newly acquired tools and equipment for two projects in Biliran. These equipment are part of the assistance provided by the SETUP to MSMEs to improve their productivity. The two firms include: The Caril Furniture in Naval, Biliran and ELSHIRGLOW Food Products from Brgy. Bariis, Caibiran, Biliran.

The team is headed by Engr. John Glenn Ocana of PSTC Leyte. Members of the committee who joined the inspection include: Mr. Manny Lagdamen, Ms. Beverly Chu, Engr. Ma. Catherine Gonda, Engr. Lorenzo Moron, Engr. Joseph Albert Lledo, and Mr. Prospero Peque.

The inspection is part of the standard process employed by SETUP to make sure equipment acquired are based on the approved requirements of the firm.

DOST launches OL trap for dengue mosquito

From left: Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, DOST-ITDI Director Nuna Almanzor, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, DOH Undersecretary David Joaquin Lozada, and DOST Undersecretary Carol Yorobe. (Photo by Joy M. Lazcano from: www.stii.dost.gov.ph)

Read full story at STII

Biliran studes qualify the 2011 PSHS NCE

Two students from Biliran Province passed the 2011 Philippine Science High School National Competitive Examination conducted last November 6, 2010. The students were Roxanne Blanca Juarez and Angelica Marie Banquilay Rostata both from Naval SPED Center, Naval, Biliran.

The official result was sent by Philippine Science High School, Diliman to the DOST PSTC Biliran with the communication dated January 31, 2011. The document included a total of 93 PSHS passers for 2010 for Region VIII. Biliran has a total of about 80 applicants for the PSHS qualifying exam held at Naval State University last November 2010. Total National passing percentage is about 6% or 1,114 examinees out of 20,233 applicants.

Both of the passers qualify to enroll in the PSHS Eastern Visayas campus located at Government Center, Palo, Leyte. The PSHS Management advised the passers to coordinate immediately with the Registrar of the campus they qualify.

DOST assisted papaya pickles product

A group of papaya producers in Culaba town Province of Biliran will soon be producing this papaya pickles through funding support from DOST 8.

Papaya is the town's identified product under the OTOP program. DOST's support include the acquisition of necessary equipment and utensils for the Community based project that would support the processing needs of the Culaba Papaya Producers Association. The Common Service Facility will be managed by the Municipal Agricultural Office through Mrs. Estefania T. Loyola, the Mun. Agriculturist.

Earlier in January 2011, the DOST 8 released PhP 214,000.00 funding assistance to the Local Government Unit of Culaba to finance the equipment component and packaging development for papaya pickles production. The facility will be housed in a newly renovated processing area within the LGU compound. Hon. Enrico Uyvico, Culaba's Chief Executive is optimistic this assistance will be able to come up with better product out of the local raw materials available in the area.

The immediate beneficiaries of the project are the papaya growers/farmers, processors and SME’s in the municipality of Culaba. At present, there are 311 papaya farmers/growers in the municipality covering 10 hectares of land area. This constitutes 3.21% of the total agricultural land area of the municipality. The estimated monthly output is 3,504 kgs. Fifty percent (50%) of the total monthly output will be processed into pickles, jams and dried papaya.

Charcoal briquette as air freshener

Charcoal is a good air and water filter in addition to its common use as alternative fuel for domestic use, and its many industrial uses. Because of this fact, Almeria Seafarers Multi-purpose Cooperative developed this small air-cleaning product made of charcoal briquette.

While common air fresheners emits some harmful compounds into the air, this small "thing" absorbs harmful and odor causing compounds from air making them fresh again. This is therefore the true air-freshener in a sense. The product's environment friendly character is also reinforced by the fact that it utilizes biomass wastes that are charred and powdered then compacted using briquetting machine.

Soon ASEMCO will be producing the charcoal briquette and the air-freshener when operation of the charcoal briquetting facility supported by Department of Science and Technology through Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) will start commercial production.

The air-freshener is a small item that can be placed on top of tables or cabinets in rooms where air need to be cleaned. This is useful in newly painted rooms or in rooms sprayed by insect repellant. It could even be placed inside the refrigerator to remove undesirable odors.

DOST assisted ASEMCO in the acquisition of equipment which are designed by both FPRDI and the ERDB-DENR in Laguna.

DOST Secretary Montejo visits citronella project in Biliran

The humble speaking Honorable Secretary Mario G. Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology cited the adoption of hydro-steam extractor technology for extraction of citronella oil from a grass locally called as "samuyao" or citronella (Cymbopogon nardus var. confertiflorus) as a success story of village level technology application.

The Secretary was in Brgy. Bato, Biliran, Biliran on January 17, 2011 for a short visit to the Citronella Oil Extraction project supported by DOST's SETUP Program.

(In Photo: L-R: Mr. Dignos-DOST Biliran Provincial Director, Mr. Jesus Doyon BEOMP owner, DOST Undersecretary Carol M. Yorobe, DOST 8 ARD for Tech Operations, Ernesto M. Granada, DOST 8 Regional Director Engr. Edgardo Esperancilla, and Hon Mario G. Montejo, DOST Secretary)

The Secretary is appreciative of how a simple technology was able to harness local raw materials into something of economic value that in turn created livelihood and job opportunity for the local people as well as an added income to the adaptor. DOST, through the Industrial Technology Development Institute assisted the Biliran Essential Oil Manufacturing Philippines (BEOMP) in designing the extractor. Engr Jesus Villamil, the company's consultant received technical suggestions from Engr. Mil Valdecañas of ITDI during the design and fabrication of the hydro-steam extractor.

The company has fully refunded the SETUP assistance of DOST for the acquisition of the extractor in 2010. This year BEOMP is aiming for further upgrading by replacing the old extractor with a new one to be funded again by SETUP.

Biliran PSTC bares contribution to DOST Regional Accomplishments

PSTC Biliran as the linking arm of DOST VIII in the province is proud to present its humble contribution to the performance of the agency in Eastern Visayas. The report contained herewith only highlights the PSTC's activities in line with the agency's key performance indicators (KPI) according to its major final outputs (MFO). There are other activities which the center conducted in coordination with other line agencies and local government units in Biliran Province, which may not be included in the report. To browse the summary of accomplishments, you may click the link below.

The year 2010 is a period of transitions in the government. This year marks the conduct of two elections nationwide, national and local. Several changes in focus and priorities were made as a result of changes in leadership both for the national and local positions. But despite these national political events, DOST continue to pursue its mandates as laid out in its development goals. The Biliran PSTC on its part continued implementation of its projects and activities as planned for the year 2010.

Still with limited budget, the PSTC was operated with two regular and one contractual employee who covers eight municipalities of the Province of Biliran. The office is hosted by the lone higher learning institution in the province, the Naval State University, with office located at the 1st floor of the NSU Gymnasium in Naval, Biliran. The provincial center coordinates every technical activities of the Department while administrative functions are made in the Regional Office to support its operations.

The accomplishments presented herewith are based on performance conducted by the center in cooperation with the local government units, other line agencies, the private sectors, local entrepreneurs, non-government organizations, the academe, and other agencies under the umbrella of the DOST. Projects implemented were based on performance commitments of the center as contribution to the over-all regional goals of DOST which in turn form part of the national DOST targets.

Highlights of Accomplishments

MFO1. Diffusion of Knowledge and Technologies

Technology Transfer and Commercialization

Under the main program of DOST on Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), PSTC Biliran committed to provide 21 Technology Interventions to 3 existing firms and 1 new firm. From these targets PSTC Biliran was able to provide 37 interventions to 8 existing and 4 new firms with Innovation System Support funding (Core funded projects). These interventions generated gross income of PhP 5.6 Million, employment of 632 man months, and an average of 87% improvement of productivity for the entire year. These are about 260% greater than the targets of PhP 2,165 million, 256 man-months, and 50% productivity improvement for gross sales, employment, and productivity, respectively

For technology interventions under the SETUP program which are funded under regular DOST funds, PSTC Biliran targeted to provide 34 interventions to 8 existing and 4 new firms which would generate about PhP 13 M of gross income, 7 employments, and 20% productivity increase. For the year, the center was able to provide 50 technical interventions to 9 existing firms and 18 new firms that generated a total gross income of PhP 85million, employed 15 persons and create 53% improvement in productivity.

Consultancy Services

Provision of technical advice through qualified consultants also is a major thrust of the Provincial Office through several consultancy programs of the agency such as CAPE, MPEX, CPT, STEVPP, and other consultancy. In 2010 PSTC Biliran targeted 3 MPEX engagements but was able to accomplish only 2. Two (2) firms were targeted for CAPE and 1 for CPT but none were conducted for the year. These results were due to unavailability of qualified SMEs for the activities. STEVPP which aimed to deploy RDI based experts targeted to deploy 17 experts and serve 121 clients but were able to deploy only 15 experts to 82 clients. This is because of the limited funds for the program and the mobilization of local experts to answer consultancy needs of the firms. For other consultancies, PSTC Biliran aimed to conduct 54 activities to serve 41 clients with 57 consultants. A total of 54 were actually made serving 54 clients with 68 consultants working either as individual or as a team.

Training, Investment Clinics, & Fora

Conduct of training is another major activity of the PSTC. A total of 12 trainings were conducted by PSTC Biliran serving about 59 firms with a total of 219 trainees for the year. These surpassed its target of 11 training for 11 firms with 160 trainees. Training conducted by the center was in cooperation with NSU and the DOST supported Food Technology Training Center in CNSAT, Cabucgayan, Biliran. Although not part of the performance commitments, DOST Biliran was able to conduct 3 technology clinic and investment fora serving a total of 22 firms with 60 participants and deployed 14 experts from DOST and other support agencies. These activities were aimed to disseminate technologies from the generator to the private sector and the enterprises in particular.

Packaging and Labeling Assistance

Packaging and labeling assistance of DOST include provision of label design and execution of label design by acquiring packaging materials that uses the label design and applied on the products. Biliran PSTC targeted 5 interventions to 3 firms which are supposed to create 4 new markets and a generation of PhP 43,000.00 gross sales. For the year in review, Biliran was able to provide 5 interventions to 5 firms generating 5 new markets and a gross sale of PhP 105,000.00

MFO III. Development of Human Resources for the S & T Sector

The role of the PSTC on the provision of human resource development activities cannot be under-emphasized being the front line of the agency. PSTC Biliran take part in dissemination of DOST’s scholarship programs. In 2010 PSTC Biliran was able to assist 108 takers of the DOST Scholarship examinations and 80 examinees under the Philippine Science High School qualifying examinations. A total of 7 existing DOST scholars who are enrolled in NSU also received regular assistance from the PSTC including facilitation of tuition fee payments and releases of monthly stipends.

MFO IV. Provision of Quality S & T Services

In providing quality services, the PSTC’s role revolves around information dissemination, development of linkages and networks, resource generation, and monitoring and evaluation. Although most did not form part of the performance commitments of the center, several accomplishments were also realized.

For 2010, PSTC Biliran was able to serve 12 press releases through local radio station and the Philippine Information Agency. A total of 21 networks were established as targeted generating 14 projects out of 12 projects targeted and a total of 11 trainings conducted with the LGUs which is also just equal to the target.

Having mandated to assist in the certification of BEIs during the May 2010 National Elections, PSTC Biliran with support from NSU was able to certify 237 BEIs from Biliran province wide.

Conclusion

With the meager budget and a lean structure, Biliran PSTC was able to contribute to the accomplishments of the Regional Office. Although there are performance indicators unmet, intervening activities were more than enough to show that the center has performed as expected if not more than expected. The staff is hereby grateful to the full support of the management both technically and administratively.