Biliran draws up for Typhoon HAGUPIT (22W)

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The Biliran Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council conducts its first briefing today to discuss preparations for the approaching weather disturbance - Tropical Storm 22W with International name HAGUPIT. The phenomenon has already created fears among Biliranons who were traumatized by the effects of STY Yolanda that hit the area more than a year ago.

The council identified every member's resources that could be utilized for emergency response including personnel, vehicles, supplies, equipment, and facilities. The meeting also served as initial action to identify contact persons from every agency including their contact numbers and other possible means of reaching them under worst case scenario.

Present during the briefing were the Municipal Mayors from Almeria, Naval, Biliran, and Cabucgayan and representative from critical agencies like the PNP, the Provincial DSWD, PHO, NFA, DPWH, PIA, DOST, and others.

HAGUPIT threatens to hit Eastern Visayas based on various forecasts from International Weather stations (see photo: taken from http://www.typhoon2000.ph/).

Meanwhile, PAGASA-DOST issued the official warning at 11 AM today with the following text "FOR: TYPHOON RUBY (INTERNATIONAL NAME “HAGUPIT”)
ISSUED AT: 11:00 AM, 03 DECEMBER 2014

AT 8:00 AM TODAY, THE TYPHOON OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN WITH INTERNATIONAL NAME “HAGUPIT” WAS ESTIMATED BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA AT 1,610 KM EAST OF DAVAO CITY (7.5˚N, 140.4˚E), WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 140 KPH NEAR THE CENTER AND GUSTINESS OF UP TO 170 KPH. IT IS FORECAST TO MOVE WEST NORTHWEST AT 30 KPH.

THIS WEATHER SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO ENTER THE PHILIPPINE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (PAR) BY TOMORROW MORNING AND IT WILL BE NAMED “RUBY” THEN IT WILL MOVE CLOSER TO EASTERN VISAYAS ON FRIDAY. HOWEVER, “HAGUPIT” IS STILL TOO FAR TO AFFECT ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS OUTLOOK WILL BE UPDATED AS SOON AS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE WEATHER PATTERN OCCUR.

THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST TO BE ISSUED AT 5:00 PM TODAY WHILE THE NEXT WEATHER ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED AT 11:00 AM TOMORROW.

Food Safety Team trains rural group

Participants eagerly listening to the speakers

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The Eastern Visayas Food Safety Team conducted another training on Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety to a group of 24 Agrarian Reform beneficiaries in Brgy. Looc, Culaba, Biliran on October 13-14, 2014.

The Looc Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (LARBA) is engaged in fish processing producing smoked fish and dried fish among others. With membership mostly women, the association is aiming to improve the quality of the product in order to raise acceptance of the market. This would in turn benefit their families by augmenting their farm incomes.

The group's product

The EVFST is composed of competent resource persons from the Department of Science and Technology Region 8. The team includes: Ms. Imelda Piccoro, SRS II of DOST-Leyte, Mr. Emmanuel Lagdamen, SRS I, and Mr. Alfred Calibuso, SRS II DOST Laboratory project. DOST Biliran PSTC, headed by OIC Ms. Ma. Catherine G. Maniba with staff Ms. Gracevillayn Saldo, PA II and Mr. Teddy Abenido, PA I assisted the training as facilitators.

The Department of Agrarian Reform in Biliran Province, currently supervised by Mr. Noel Salloman, MARPO through the Project Coordinator Mr. Arnel Javines, ARPO I, facilitated the conduct of the activity which is part of the agencies support projects for the beneficiaries of their land transfer programs.

DOST Biliran orients new SETUP beneficiaries

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They all came as invited.

Yes, the seven CEOs of the firms assisted by DOST SETUP from around Biliran Province this year 2014 joined the orientation activities conducted by the DOST Regional Project Management Office (RPMO)at the DOST Biliran Provincial Office this day October 9, 2014. The event was meant to clarify issues as far as the obligations of the firms to DOST.

The Memorandum of Agreement signed by the firms with DOST was revisited and each provisions were discussed further. Questions and clarifications were raised on required reports and documentations and what needs to be done now that the project implementation has commenced.

Ms. Mae Anne D. Reyes, DOST-8 SETUP RPMO Coordinator discussed the MOA and the requirements of the program during the early phase of implementation. She also stressed to the young entrepreneurs the need to be innovative especially with the opening of the countries business environment as ASEAN Integration is nearing. "Think not of the usual market, but open up for the international market," Ms. Reyes stressed.

Meanwhile, Ms. MA. Catherine Maniba, DOST Biliran OIC who warmly welcomed the beneficiaries, echoed her request for cooperation for the smooth implementation of the project. She encouraged everyone to become open for improvement and to coordinate freely with the DOST Biliran office for whatever problems they may encounter in the course of project implementation.

The event was also a venue for giving the companies insights and practical advises as far as manufacturing practices specially in dealing with machinery that use electricity. The MPEX consultants of Naval State University provided inputs to the group on Electrical Safety and Equipment maintenance. The NSU team was composed of Engr. Jude Banico, Electrical Engineer and Engr. Arthur Calomadre, Mechanical Engineer.

Mr. Romeo L. Dignos, Biliran PSTD (On-Scholarship) also joined the activity and delivered the closing remarks. Ms. Gracevillalyn Saldo, DOST Biliran Project Assistant II for SETUP served as the EMCEE, while Mr. Teddy Abenido, PA-I lead the group in prayer during the opening.

The DOST 8 SETUP RPMO Team who joined the activity include Ms. Joan Aligante, Mr. Andrew Soledad, and Mr. Lysander King III

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.