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.