Phivolcs-DOST helps Biliran on Eartquake Disaster Mitigation

Drs. Ma. Leonila & Bartolome Bautista of Phivolcs during the lectures
(in white shirts)

Readiness in times of calamities is a key element in preventing disasters. This is the reason the Biliran Provincial Government quickly responded to the call of the Department of Science and Technology to adopt the Rapid Earthquake Disaster Assessment Software (REDAS) developed and promoted by DOST's Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS).

Phivolcs stated that REDAS could provide a quick and near real-time simulated earthquake hazard information to disaster managers which will help them in assessing the distribution and extent of the impacts of a strong earthquake. This information will guide them in organizing a timely rescue and relief operations. Furthermore it could also serve as a tool for land use planners, policy makers, city and town development planners to consider earthquake hazards in their planning and development to mitigate seismic risks. The tool can calculate hazards of ground shaking, earthquake-induced landslides, liquefaction and tsunami.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers from the eight Municipalities of Biliran Province joined the hands-on training conducted by Phivolcs on July 21-26, 2013 at Agta Beach Resort, Almeria, Biliran. Participants from other nearby provinces also attended the event.There were 43 individuals who participated the training workshop, the output of which are hazard maps on different earthquake related hazards.

The Phivolcs 9-man training team headed by  Deputy Director Dr. Bartolome Bautista provided the participants first hand experience in running the software and understanding its full functionality. This same team was responsible in gathering the initial data used in digitizing base maps and maps for earthquake related hazards for the Province of Biliran that were also used during the training.

The activity was jointly organized and supported by the DOST-Phivolcs who provided counterpart funds for the travel of the training team from Manila to Biliran, the Biliran Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office through the headship of Mr. Sofronio B. Dacillo Jr, PDRRMO, The DOST-8 through the Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center, with PSTD Mr. Romeo L. Dignos, and the Office of Civil Defense 8 headed by Director Rey Gozon who provided funding for the activity. Hon. Brigido Caneja III, representing Honorable Gerardo Espina Jr., Provincial Governor of Biliran at the same time Chairman of the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council graced the opening ceremonies of the training.

DOST Biliran Project Maps

The DOST Biliran has generated a Map using Google Maps of its local projects funded under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program. The map is aimed at providing general information on the kinds of projects supported by the program. Place markers are color coded based on the sectors where the project is considered:
Green - Food,    Blue w/o dot - Metals,   Yellow - Furniture,  Red w/o dot - Pharmaceuticals,  Red - IT,  Blue - Others. Yellow push pin markers are DOST-GIA assisted project

The Map generated by Google

The place markers when clicked will show the SETUP Project Title and other pertinent project information.

For further inquiries about specific project, please email rdignos@hotmail.com. You can also call our landline at (053) 500 9347, or you can visit our office at DOST-Biliran, NSU Compound, Naval, Biliran Province.

ITDI conducts assessment for Gasifier Combustor technology application

The existing oven of Talahid Beach Resor

The Industrial Technology Development Institute through the expertise of Engineer Lorencito M. Pacatang, conducted recently an assessment of two micro enterprises from the Province of Biliran for the possible application of the gasifier combustor technology in their respective processing operations.

Gasifier combustor is a devise that converts biomass wastes into energy through gasification process. The biomass is burned inside a close chamber to produce blue flames that are used as heat source in any cooking processes. The common fuel used are rice hulls which are abundantly found in the rural areas.

Marksahn Breadshop in Biliran, Biliran signified interest in adopting the technology for its bakery business. The owner, Mr. Arthur Cerera was optimistic it would help him reduce his fuel cost. Engr. Pacatang provided the technology design and helped the beneficiary in contacting the fabricator of the equipment. Equipment acquisition will be supported by the DOST through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program.

Meanwhile, Talahid Beach Resort, in Agta Beach, Talahid, Almeria, Biliran who is famous for its unique broiled chicken sought the support of DOST in improving their broiler production facility. The Resort is currently using an old traditional type of oven. ITDI inspected the facility and provided recommendations to improve further their existing oven.

The series of activities that was conducted last June 25-27, 2013 was coordinated by the Training and Consultancy group of the Department of Science and Technology, Regional Office VIII through Engr. Ramil T. Uy, Sr. Science Research Specialist. It was also assisted by the Biliran Provincial S & T Center.

ACAI Goldsmith receives technology upgrading assistance from DOST

Cecil Joson, ACAI proprietress (2nd from left) during the training

The ACAI Goldsmithery shop in Naval, Biliran recently received a series of support from the Department of Science and Technology to make better its jewelry production facility. The assistance is expected to improve the quality of the firm's jewelry products and hopefully create new product lines such as medals, pins, and related items.

It started with the release of Innovation Support fund for the improvement of its process and acquisition of technology related equipment amounting to Four Hundred Sixty Thousand Pesos (PhP 460,000.00).

The transfer of technology on spin casting and electroplating was undertaken through their participation in a training conducted by Metals Industry Research and Development Center of DOST on June 4-7, 2013 at DOST Eastern Samar Conference Hall in Borongan City.

Electroplating technology is needed for the production of low cost jewelry and metal products which are made of low quality metals and coated with precious metals like gold, silver, bronze and the like. These products include: medals, trophy plates, name plates, and the likes. In the other hand, spin casting is the process where small items are molded to desired form before they are plated to produce the final products mentioned earlier.

The training which served both Eastern Samar and Biliran SETUP beneficiaries were jointly coordinated by the DOST Regional Office 8 and the DOST Provincial Offices of Eastern Samar and Biliran.

Engr. Wilfredo R. Lim and Engr. Edilbert M. Dela Peña, both Senior Science Research Specialist from MIRDC, served as resource speakers of the said event.

The upgrading assistance is expected to boost the production capability of ACAI Goldsmith which is currently using the old methods of forming and designing their products. The acquisition of better electroplating technology will also enhance the surface finish of their plated products while spin casting will open for new product lines.

DOST, DAR conducts Food Safety training

The Food Safety Team headed by Engr. Gopo

Food safety is everybody's business and the Eastern Visayas Food Safety Team is serious on its mandate of spreading awareness of ensuring fitness for consumption the food products produced even by micro-enterprises from rural areas. The Balaquid Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, from Brgy. Balaquid, Cabucgayan, Biliran is the latest to receive the training on Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices conducted last May 29-30, 2013.

Department of Agrarian Reform Biliran Provincial office provided the funding for the two-day training under its Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program III. The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. VIII through the Food Safety Team and the Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center joined hands in organizing the activity.

The training held at Balaquid Women's Building was participated by twelve members of the cooperative who are producers of fruit and vegetable pickles. Engr. Rosella Gopo, Sr. Science Research Specialist and Provincial Science and Technology Director of Samar Provincial Science and Technology Center, headed the Food Safety team's training group. Engr. Isabelita M. Pamposa and Mr. Alfred Calibuso both Science Research Specialist II of DOST-8 was part of the team. Engr. Donnie Rey Duhig, SRS I, and Mr. Teddy Abenido, SRA of DOST Biliran assisted the trainers during the activities. Ms. Nancy Obligado, Provincial Marketing Assistance Officer and Development Facilitator of DARPO Biliran served as facilitator.

The participants were taught on different aspects of Food Safety including: hand washing techniques, Chemical, Allergens, and Physical Hazards, Cross contamination, Personal hygiene, and other topics related to good manufacturing practices. Hands-on activities were conducted to let the attendees experience first hand the topics discussed.

"Damo an amon mabaruan para mas malimpyo pa ang producto (We learned a lot to make our product more clean and safe)" was the general feedback of the participants.

BARBC is mostly composed of women who are family members of Agrarian Reform beneficiaries from the Agrarian Reform Community of Balaquid Cabucgayan. Their products are papaya pickles, mango pickles, and others. Their food processing venture is an added source of income. BARBC members are all farmers.

DOST supports NSU Research & Development efforts

Mr. Amosco & Mr Dignos during the critiquing

To boost the Naval State University's effort to improve its Research and Development capabilities, the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. VIII provided support by training NSU personnel on Statistical Procedures for Research and Development.

A training on Statistical Analysis, Data Interpretation, and Presentation was conducted by NSU in partnership with DOST-8 for the College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences in February 2013 and for the College of Engineering last April 25-26, 2013. Participants were taught on how to identify the best suited statistical analysis based on the design of their project. A matrix was provided to the researchers as easy reference.

Mr. Arnaldo T. Amosco, Jr., Provincial Science and Technology Director of Eastern Samar and the only qualified statistics expert of DOST-8 served as speaker during the series of trainings. DOST Biliran PSTD, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos assisted in the critiquing of the research proposals for the two separate trainings.

Research is one of the four-pronged mandates of state universities alongside instruction, production, and extension. However, many SUCs would admit they have limited capabilities as far as Research is concerned due to a lot of reasons. Among these is limited knowledge of researchers on experimental designs and data analysis and interpretation.

Statistical analysis in researches is a highly specialized knowledge that many researchers think its the sole responsibility of qualified statisticians. But good researchers agree that without knowledge of how the research is to be conducted and data analyzed good research is difficult to achieve.