DOST Biliran is Biliran OTOP's Most Supportive Partner Organization

The Department of Science and Technology's Provincial Science and Technology Centers in Region 8 bagged the One Town One Product's (OTOP) Most Supportive Partner Organization awards in Provincial levels fro 5 out of 6 provinces. The 5 provincial awardees and nominated for the Regional level awards are Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte with Samar PSTC emerging as the Regional OTOP Most Supportive Partner Organization.

The awarding ceremony was made during the Regional OTOP Congress conducted in Tacloban City on September 10, 2009 through the leading of the OTOP Secretariat, the Department of Trade and Industry. Also awarded during the event are the SMEs and LGU implementers.

Honorable Cynthia R. Nierras, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, graced the occassion attended by OTOP partners and beneficiary LGU's and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the region.

S & T Scholarship Information Caravan in Biliran

Students from 13 high schools in Biliran Province joined the Information Caravan on DOST scholarships conducted by the the DOST-8 Scholarship promotion team together with Biliran Provincial S & T Center and the Department of Education Division of Biliran on August 20, 2009 at the Naval Central School, Naval, Biliran

Teachers and students were briefed on the requirements and application procedures of the diffrent scholarship programs implemented by the DOST. Specifically, the caravan was aimed to generate awareness on the scholarship programs and what benefits it would bring to the qualifiers. It was also geared towards encouraging all qualified students to apply and have the chance to qualify through the examinations slated on November 15, 2009 in designated testing centers nationwide.

Participating students are those belonging to the top 10% of the graduating class coming from the different high schools around the island province. Students not belonging to the top but who possess special aptitude in science and mathematics could also apply by showing proof through rating cards and certified by the school principal.

Students from Biliran and neighboring towns of Leyte i.e. Leyte and Calubian, may opt take the qualifying test at Naval State University, the designated testing center in Biliran, after proper coordination with the DOST-8.

Finally, the DOST Biliran PSTC extends its gratefullness to DepEd Biliran's Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Sarah Apurillo for quickly organizing the forum.

Sec. Alabastro visits projects in Samar Provinces

The untiring Secretary, Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, of DOST remarkably toured the entire island of Samar on August 13-15, 2009 in an effort to update herself of what DOST has done in this area. This visit is marked as the Region VIII leg of her countrywide project visits this year.

Sec. Alabastro maybe the first DOST Secretary to have visited in a single trip the projects in the provinces of Northern Samar, Samar (Western), and Eastern Samar. She scaled down urban areas, walk dirt roads, travelled bumpy streets, hiked hills, and even cross the seas through small boat, to reach DOST projects even in remote areas.

The 5th Visayas S & T Fair Opens Today

The 5th Visayas S & T Fair opens today at the People's Center in Tacloban City with a simple Opening Ceremony yet well attended by major science and technology stakeholders of the Visayas region and other DOST officials around the country.

For a more detailed report Click Here. Here is a glimpse of the major activities today:

Opening Ceremony:

Launching of the Visyas SET-UP Online, a web-based GIS database of DOST projects and programs.

Forging of the Visayas Consortium with Engr. Rowen Gelonga, Engr. Rene Burt N. Llanto, and Engr. Edgardo M. Esperancilla, Regional Directors of DOST 6, 7, & 8, respectively witnessed by DOST Assistant Secretary, Dr. Carol M. Yorobe.

Public Awarding of ISO 17025 Accreditation to DOST-8 Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory.

Awarding of S & T Kabalikat Award to ABC 5

Opening of the S & T Exhibits.

Press Conference.


Dialogue with SETUP beneficiaries.

5th Visayas Cluster S & T Fair

We are announcing the conduct of the 5th Visayas Cluster Science and Technology Fair on August 3-6, 2009 in Tacloban City. This S & T Fair is not only for science and technology professionals and students but also is designed for the benefit of the general public. We therefore call the general populace to come and participate.

The activity once again will feature the contribution of Science and Technology in the different sectors of society, the professionals, businessmen, and common people alike. A new type of exhibits will be featured during the fairs; products out of the firms the DOST assisted will also be sold in the exhibit area; and technologies that affect the people will be presented during the technical sessions.
(Photo was taken during the 4th S & T Fair from http://ro7.dost.gov.ph)

The following is the general lined up activities.

Day 1( August 3)

• 8AM-11AM Opening Ceremonies and Opening of Exhibits at the People's Center, Tacloban City.
• 11AM-1PM Press Conference, Hotel Alejandro
• 1PM-5PM Forum with SETUP assisted SMEs and Sec. Estrella F. Alabastro and Assistant Secretary Carol M. Yorobe

Day 2 -5 (August 4-6)

• Technical Sessions on Various Topics: (Renewable Energy, Gifts & Holiday Decors, Solid Waste Management, Climate Change, Food Safety, etc) Various experts on these fields will present important information that are useful even to the common person.

Further details on the activities will be posted here from time to time, so please keep watch.

Biliran PMSMED Council revitalized

The implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9501 paved the way for the revitalization of the Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council (PMSMEDC) which is actively participated by the Biliran Provincial S & T Center. In Biliran, the Council is chaired by Mr. Tiburcio Morales, retired DAR 8 Regional Director, now representing the private sector. RA 9501 is actually an act to promote entrepreneurship by strengthening development and assistance programs to micro, small and medium scale enterprises, amending the "Magna Carta for Small Enterprises" (RA 6977).

Organized just in May 2009, a year after the Act was approved in May 2008, the Biliran PMSMEDC focued on three sectors as priority for development and implementation of support policies and programs. These are: Food processing, Gifts and Holiday Decors, and Tourism. The provincial council included the following agencies: DOST, DILG, DOLE, TESDA, PNP, PCA, NIT representing the academe, and major Provincial LGU Departments like the Agriculture, Toursim, and the Planning Office. The priority sectors were also represented by selected private enterprises.

This month on July 6-12, 2009 the SMED Week was celebrated and the Council embarked on intensive information drive and advocacy on its programs and projects currently implemented and those planned for implementation.