DOST joints SME Caravan in Maripipi

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The DOST Biliran's Officer-in-Charge Ms. Maria Catherine G. Maniba joins the team spearheaded by the DTI-Biliran Provincial Office who brought The Roving Academy to the Maripipi Island of Biliran Province. The Academy was there last September 23-24, 2014 to deliver talks on the support programs of various agencies for the micro, small, and medium enterprises of the municipality.

Never mindful of the threats of monsoon waves, the lady OIC of DOST, joined DTI team on board a chartered small boat. The trip became both a challenge and an enjoyment. It was a challenge to bring the office services even across rough seas and remote municipalities. An enjoyment to be of service while exploring the beauty of nature.

Ms. Maniba presented the DOST's SETUP Program to about 25 participants from various parts of the town. The presentation gained interest among the ears of local entrepreneurs and generated potential clients under SETUP's various windows of assistance. Photo above shows Ms. Maniba answering the various queries from interested MSMEs of Maripipi.

The SME Roving Academy is a continuous learning program for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises to become competitive in the domestic and international (global) markets. Its main strategies contain: Integration of the business development services for SMEs at the national and local levels, establishment of the Provincial, Regional, and National Entrepreneurship Development Networks, & Management of an inclusive promotion program.

The academy employs the support of partner agencies such as:Business Development Services (BDS) Providers, the LGUs, the academes and training institutions, local chamber, academe, financial institutions, trade and industry associations, and other government and non-government organizations.

In Maripipi, the academy was joined by the Philhealth who discussed on employees health benefits, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, for business licensing, and the DOST for technology support to SMES.

DOST-8 releases livelihood support for Yolanda victims of Cabucgayan

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The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VIII through the Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center, released its counterpart funds on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 for the project "Establishment of Common Service Facility for Fiberglass Boat Production in Support to the Aquamarine Industry."

The amount of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) from the DOST-8 Grant-in Aid (GIA) Program will be used to acquire the needed equipment for the fabrication of fiberglass boats. The target beneficiaries are the fisher-folks affected by the devastating typhoon Yolanda that also hit the Municipality of Cabucgayan.

The project also aimed to train the beneficiaries in fiberglass boat production for their livelihood. The boats produced will be provided to the fishermen beneficiaries and used for their livelihood. The Project Management team, headed by the Mun. Agriculturist and the Office of the Mayor, will decide how the fishermen will pay or how the cost of boat shall be recovered for production of subsequent units.

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released their counterpart funds for the procurement of supplies and materials needed for the production of this boats.

In a simple turn over ceremony at the office of the Mayor, Hon. Gemma G. Adobo, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos, Sr. Science Research Specialist of DOST 8, Provincial Director of DOST-Biliran (on Study Leave) handed the check to the mayor and witnessed by Ms. Maria P. Suson, the Municipal Agriculturist and the Project Coordinator and Mr. Victoriano C. Gunabe Jr. the Municipal Treasurer.

Equipment acquired by the project shall remain the property of DOST-8 unless they will be donated if the implementing team will find it beneficial to the target clients.

2015 DOST Scholarships Exams: 97% turnout in Biliran

Students humble themselves in prayer before the test

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The DOST Biliran registered 97% turn out of examinees during the recently conducted DOST-SEI Scholarships Examinations for 2015. A total of 309 out of the 319 registered applicants were able to take the examinations and have their chance to be chosen as DOST scholars by the first semester of SY 2015-2016. Results of the said tests will be out by March 2015.

Biliran registered 45% increase of applicants based on official records. Last year Biliran received a total of 212 applications. Twelve of those who took the 2013 tests passed and are now enjoying privileges as DOST scholars in different schools in Region VIII and the NCR (Read related story).

The increase in participation was due to the intensive campaign headed by the DOST-8 Human Resource Development Unit through Engr. Ramil T. Uy, Sr. Science Research Specialist. In Biliran, Ms. Ma. Catherine G. Maniba, Officer-in-Charge of DOST Biliran PSTC conducted information caravan throughout the Province to convince all schools to send their science and mathematics inclined students who are also performing well in their academics.

Support programs to boost the chance of passing the scholarships were also conducted throughout the region. This include the conduct of weekend reviews in various locations. In Biliran the review classes were conducted at Naval School of Fisheries, Naval, Biliran.

"This is just a pilot activity. If the result will be good, we plan to expand the review classes next year," Engr. Ramil cited during an ambush interview at the DOST Regional Office.

Parents of vying students express their gratitude to the Department by at least giving their deserving students a chance to be counted among the top scholars of the nation if they pass the DOST scholarships.

Biliran SETUP Database

DOST Biliran has added new information on its blogsite. The SETUP Projects of Biliran can now be accessed through the button on the right column of the Home Page. For the mean time limited information can be viewed and copied by any interested users. Soon the database can include updates as far as refund rates and other information which is made possible through the Cloud Facilities of Google.

Earlier we added the Map Page which will give you ideas of the location of our projects. Here's the link Map

You can also visit the link from this post.

Ms. Maniba named DOST Biliran OIC

Ms. Maria Catherine G. Maniba

With the awarding of the Scholarship for a Doctorate Degree of the concurrent Provincial Director of DOST Biliran, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos, Ms. Maria Catherine G. Maniba was named Officer-in-Charge of the office effective August 1, 2014 until the official return of Mr. Dignos.

MS. MARIA CATHERINE GONDA-MANIBA was born and raised in Brgy. Tucdao, Kawayan, Biliran being 2nd child among 3 children of Lilio Candido Gonda (deceased) and Cristina Tecling Borja a retired teacher. She finished her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering cum laude at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) in 1997 as DOST Scholar. In April 2014 she completed her Master’s Degree in Technology Management at University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City under the DOST Human Resource Development Program Scholarship (Residential).

As a government worker, Ms. Maniba, "Cathy" to her friends, started as a contractual Science Research Assistant under the Technical Operations Division of the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office 8 Gov’t Center, Candahug, Palo Leyte from February 2008- September 2009. She was transferred to the Scholarship Unit in October – December 2009 and served as Scholarship Project Staff II. In January 2010 she was promoted to a permanent position as Science Research Specialist II assigned in the Biliran Provincial S & T Center of the Department of Science and Technology holding office at NSU Compound, Naval Biliran Province.

She was married to Mr. Rodolfo Logro Maniba, Jr. from Brgy. Mapuyo, Kawayan, Biliran and blessed with 2 children. She and her family now resides in Brgy. Tucdao, Kawayan, Biliran.

DOST 8 approves PhP2.9M for 7 new SETUP project in Biliran

Some of the products of AR La Naval

A total of seven (7) micro enterprises from Biliran Province have recently availed of the DOST's SETUP program totaling PhP 2.935 Million worth of technology assistance for improving the productivity of each firm. The bulk of this assistance is on technology transfer and acquisition of technology related equipment.

The firms who were added in the roll of DOST SETUP assisted enterprises in this island province include the following: 1) AR La Naval Motor Parts and General Marketing, Naval, Biliran engaged in customized metals and motor parts productions and industrial tools and equipment fabrication; 2) Memua Minimart, Caibiran, Biliran for the production of veggie based bread; 3) Lego's Tailoring, Naval, Biliran for production of gifts and holiday decors; 4) USJ Welding Shop, Almeria, Biliran for the production of sidecars for tricycle and other fabricated steel products; 5) JC's Breadhauz, Almeria, Biliran for production of specialized bread products; 6) Kisha Snack House, Cabucgayan, Biliran for improvement of its snack food production facility; and 7) Brian's Landscaping and Agricultural Consultancy Services for upgrading of its hydroponic system for production of high valued vegetables.

The SETUP program primarily aims to upgrade the productivity of these firms so that their product will be of better quality and are GMP and Food Safety compliant, for those engaged in food preparation, through the infusion of appropriate technology.

With the infusion of technology the firms are expected to generate local employment and added income by increasing their production capacity and product marketability.