No mountain too steep for DOST Consultancy program

Biliran Scents & Fragrance citronella plantation assessment

The DOST-8 Consultancy team literally walks though hills and climb mountains just to reach its clients in the countryside.

This has become the routine of the Comprehensive Agricultural Productivity Enhancement (CAPE) coordinators and its commissioned consultants during assessment of interested clients who signifies interest to avail of DOST services.

CAPE is one of DOST's consultancy window together with the Manufacturing Productivity Expansion (MPEX) Program, Cleaner Production Technology (CPT), Food Safety (FS), Energy Audit (EA), and other technology specific consultancies.

On June 2-3, 2014 the DOST-8 Team lead by Engr. Ramil Uy, STS Coordinator, Ms. Lucia Dauz and Engr. Florentino Quenonez, MPEX Coordinators, and Ms. Evelyn Tablante, CAPE Coordinator together with the DOST-Biliran Team headed by Mr. Romeo L. Dignos, PSTD, Ms. Ma. Catherine B. Gonda, SRSII, Ms. Gracevillalyn Saldo, Project Assistant II, and Mr. Teddy Abenido, Project Assistant I visited 8 firms from around the Province of Biliran who are enrolled for consultancy assistance for CY 2014.

Canaan Hill Farms Assessment

The DOST Teams were joined by a group of CAPE consultants from the Visayas State University in the persons of Dr. Alfredo B. Escasinas, Dr. Arsenio Ramos, and Dr. Mario Baliad who are experts in their respective fields in Agriculture.

These firms will receive free consultancy services from DOST commissioned consultants from various schools in the region for a period of 3-6 months. The consultants will assist the recipient firms in improving their operations both on technical and management aspects. DOST provides support for the transportation and other incidental expenses of the experts during the consultancy engagements. The consultants, in return, will make necessary recommendations and other technical inputs that will help solve common problems in the business operations. On the receiving end, the firm will be responsible for the cost of any changes he/she is willing to adopt out of the consultants recommendations.

The cost of consultancy fee is so high nowadays that it would be impractical for micro and small enterprises to avail the expertise of consultants by spending some amount out of their own pockets. DOST’s assistance is therefore a big help for them since DOST convinced these consultants to do their share without asking for standard rate consultancy fees.

>The firms to be assisted include: 4 for MPEX: JC Breadhauz, Almeria, Biliran, USJ Welding Shop, Almeria, Biliran, Kisha Snack House, Cabucgayan, Biliran, and Memu Minimart, Caibiran, Biliran; 4 for CAPE: Atipolo MPCI, Naval, Biliran, Biliran Scents & Fragrances, Biliran, Biliran, Canaan Hill Farms, Caibiran, and Maderazo Farm, Caibiran. Also USJ Welding Shop will be assisted with the CPT Program and Energy Audit.

SY2014-2015 DOST-SEI Scholarship Examination Results

The result of the 2014 DOST-SEI Scholarship Examinations for the SY 2014-2015 is now available.

Congratulations to the following passers from Biliran Province:

1. LACSON, JOVIE ANN ALMERIA NHS
2. BORAGAY, GRANT G. BILIRAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL HS
3. CORPIN, PRINCESS MICAH T. BILIRAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL HS
4. ORZAL, KRIS ANN M. CABUCGAYAN NSAT
5. CABALQUINTO, MICHELLE B. MANLABANG NHS
6. FIEL, ROVIE JOY Q. MANLABANG NHS
7. BORROMEO, ANGELYN A. CULABA NVS
8. PAPILLERAS, KAREN ANTONETTE A. KAWAYAN NHS
9. RADAM, ANITA J. MARIPIPI NVS
10.GULFO, JEFFERSON G. LUCSOON NHS
11.MAHINAY, JEDALYN V. NAVAL NHS
12.SUMAYAN, KIM REYMART BILIRAN SHS

Click the link for the Complete List of qualifiers.

The new scholarship awardees must seek admission in any of the priority S&T fields of study at state colleges and universities and CHED-identified Centers of Excellence/Centers of Development. Each qualifier shall receive a notice of award from the DOST-SEI or DOST Regional Office stating the date of orientation and contract signing. He/she shall report at the designated venue with a parent/legal guardian who must bring a 2014 Community Tax Certificate or Official Passport. The legal guardian is required to present his/her affidavit of guardianship. The names of some potential qualifiers are put on hold pending re-evaluation of some requirements.

Congratulations to all passers.

DOST Biliran SETUP Team kicks-off anew

After ST Yolanda comes a new challenge for the DOST Biliran Team for CY 2014.

Gracevillalyn R. Saldo

The DOST Biliran SETUP Team has been refreshed by the hiring of a new staff in the person of Ms. Gracevillalyn R. Saldo, Computer Engineer by profession, and a Yolanda survivor herself. How she survived is history which she has the right to keep by herself or share them in whatever means she likes.

The month of January as usual is a ground-working stage with several lined up activities which include the orientation of new staff, Hydromet Project Installation, and Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) for new SETUP applicants.

DOST Biliran PSTD conducted the orientation of the new staff about the SETUP Program and its components, and a hands-on training on project proposal preparation, financial analysis, and TNA procedures to the new staff. The activities ran from January 4 to January 8, 2014. The next days were devoted to identification of prospective SETUP applicants with Ms. Saldo backed-up by SETUP Staff Mr. Teddy Abenido. After which they conducted one-on-one consultation with the MSME prospects around Biliran. DTI Biliran PO provided us the list of registered MSMEs, special thanks to Director Celerina Bato.

ARG Installation in Almeria, Biliran

On January 16 the DOST Biliran Team supported by the DOST Regional Office 8 Hydromet project team members: Engr. Heber Matuza and Mr. Dominic Abiabi installed the Automatic Rain Gauges in two locations: Almeria Central School, Almeria, Biliran and Biliran Municipal Grounds in the Municipality of Biliran in Biliran Province. The units were successfully installed despite the non-stop rain.

The next day, January 17, 2014 while the sun and the sky was partially covered with drizzle the Team went on to conduct Technology Needs Assessment to two MSMEs in Caibiran, Biliran.

at Canaan Hillside Farms, Uson, Caibiran

The first was Canaan Hill Farms and Honey Garden located at Brgy. Uson who sought assistance for their ginger powder processing venture. But the Team found more possible support through CAPE and MPEX programs. Next was Memua Minimart in Poblacion, Caibiran who needed support for then healthy bread production. The proponent needed help in production of bread with no animal fat added which is targeted for non pork eaters (Muslims, Adventists, etc). They are planning to adopt vegie-bread technologies.

The team's last stop for the day was the installation of Automatic Rain Gauge in the Municipal Grounds of Culaba, Biliran.

Damaged but recovering

Some of our SETUP clients tried their very best to stand despite the damages brought by super typhoon Yolanda.

Note: This is our initial post for the year since our Globe Broadband connection is still under repair. We have no telephone line as of this time.

Photo show some of damage facilities. There are several beneficiaries in Biliran who also suffered major setbacks.

Remedial actions were underway to minimize their economic losses.

DOST successfully conducted Scholarship exams in Biliran

The Department of Science and Technology Science Education Institute successfully conducted the DOST-SEI Scholarships qualifying examinations for 2014 particularly in Biliran Province with a 94% turn-out. The test was conducted simultaneously throughout the country last September 22, 2013, except for armed conflict affected areas in Mindanao. In Biliran, 200 students out of 212 registered applicants from different high schools of the Division of Biliran participated in the exams. It was held in the Naval State University Gym from 7:00AM - 12:00 Noon for the morning session and 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the afternoon session.

The examination is aimed at identifying the next batch of scholars for the coming school year 2014-2015. Graduating fourth year students who belong to the top 5% of their class and those enrolled in certified science based high schools were qualified to take the examinations. The scholarships were classified into two categories: the RA7687 and the Merit Scholarships. The former is intended for the poor but deserving students while the latter is for students with higher family income. All qualifiers of the scholarship are required to take science and technology based courses in certified schools within the country.

Few students from island municipality of Maripipi and Higatangan were not able to take the exam which was reportedly hindered due to prevailing bad sea conditions.

DOST-8 assists Biliran PDRRMC Operation Center's IT capability

Mr. Dignos-DOST Biliran with Mr Dacillo PDRRMO
with staff during the turn-over of equipment

The DOST-8 through the Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center provided support to the Biliran Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC)through infusion of IT capability to aid in its Prevention and Mitigation efforts. The assistance includes the acquisition of 1 unit Computer to store databases on hazard maps of Biliran Province for easy retrieval and updating and one unit Global Positioning System (GPS) for mapping of risk data. The computer will also be used as storage for different hazard mitigating and monitoring software promoted by the DOST such as Project NOAH, REDAS of PHIVOLCS, and links to PAGASA and other weather monitoring agencies.

As the agency mandated to lead the Council's Prevention and Mitigation Committee the DOST initiated the project entitled Establishment of IT Support Center for Hazard Mitigation of Flood and Earthquake Related Hazards in Biliran Province. It was funded by DOST-8 through its local Grant-In-Aid (GIA) program for a total amount of Sevety Five Thousand Pesos for the acquisition of 1 unit Desktop Computer and one unit GPS. It was generally aimed to improve the over-all preparedness of the local disaster risk reduction and management planners for hazard mitigation by establishing a facility for better hazard map preparation and updating and real time monitoring. Part of the project was the training conducted earlier on the REDAS software application which was attended by Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers of the different municipalities of Biliran Province.

Mr. Sofronio "Jun" Dacillo, Jr., the Provincial Disater Risk and Reduction Management Officer of Biliran Provincial expressed his gratefulness to the DOST in behalf of the Council and the Provincial Government for the very valuable contribution.

The equipment provided by the project will be operated and managed by the PDRRMO and will be located at the PDRRMC Operation Center located at the Provincial Museum in front of Provincial Capitol, Calumpang, Naval, Biliran. The computer will have direct Internet link for access of Project NOAH site and other earthquake and typhoon monitoring sites both local and international. A system will be designed later to pool these links in one user interface for ease of access. Local database on different hazard maps will be integrated in the system for ease of monitoring and accessibility.-RLDignos