Attention: DOST Scholars

The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VIII released a warning to all DOST scholars and their families on the presence of extortion groups who give information in exchange of money victimizing DOST SEI scholars and their parents.

The press release came after reports of a case in Cordilla Autonomous Region (CAR). DOST CAR coordinated with the local PNP and conducted entrapment operation against the group. When confronted the group denied the allegations and said they were just offering training courses for the scholars, the report stated.

Scholars are therefore advised to keep watch of this 'modus operandi' and inform the local DOST offices if such cases happened. In Region VIII you may contact the Regional Office at (053) 323 6356.

DOST Press Release c/o Engr. R. T Uy

DOST Biliran PSTD joins National planning

Regional Directors and representative Provincial Science and Technology Directors from around the country gathered at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute Audio-visual room in DOST at Bicutan on December 9-11, 2009 for the 2010 program and projects planning.

DOST Biliran's Mr. Romeo L. Dignos was among the representatives of the DOST 8 PSTDs together with Engr. John Glenn Ocaña, PSTD of Leyte. The rest of the team from DOST 8 Regional Office are Mr. Rufino Mengote-Planning Officer, Ms. Mae Anne D. Reyes-SET RPMO coordinator, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, and Engr. Edgardo M. Esperancilla, the Regional Director.

The Regional Office group presented the accomplishments for 2009 and the proposed programs and targets of the agency for 2010. The PSTDs, on their part, presented the successful and unsuccessful SETUP projects in their respective areas of assignment. The project presentations was a good opportunity to learn and adopt the good practices employed by successful projects and avoid the pitfalls of unsuccessful ones.

2010-2011 DOST SEI Scholarships

The DOST SEI Scholarship Examinations for SY 2010-2011 will be simultaneously conducted on November 15, 2009 in all Test Centers throughout the country. For Biliran the Test Center is located at the Audio Visual Room, Andaya Building, Naval State University, Naval, Biliran Province.

A total of 120 students from Biliran Province are expected to take the exams.

Takers are advised to bring with them their identifications (School ID) and examination permits. In cases where permits are lost or did not reach them, any valid ID and certification from the school head that they have submitted their applications and the same were recorded by authorized DOST official shall be considered.

Biliran PSTC conducts MPEX pre-assessment

Three micro enterprises in Biliran were pre-assessed on November 10, 2009 for possible assistance under the DOST-8's continuing effort to improve the productivity of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).

Two beneficiaries were considered under Manufacturing Productivty Expansion Program (MPEX) as well as possible innovation support and one to be considered only for technology acquisition support. The Caril's Furniture in Naval, Biliran, which was earlier favorably evaluated by SETUP National Program Management Office (NPMO), is specializing in wood furniture but uses manual tools in boring and curve cutting. The firm needs to acquire new tools to improve their productivity. Training on wood bending and wood finishing techniques is proposed for next year's intervention.

ES Cator Steel Works is another firm considered for MPEX. They specializes on body building for motor cabs and tricycles, grilles, steel trusses, and other steel works. Their current need is on improvement on their welding and metal bending facility. The last one is Ungale Handicraft in Brgy. Ungale, Kawayan, Biliran, which specializes in home decors and novelty gift items made from abaca based materials and other local indigenous raw materials. They are hoping to upgrade their facility by acquiring new equipment for sewing the weaving of abaca.

The assessment team was headed by Ms. Mae Anne D. Reyes, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Executive Manager of DOST-8 Technology Transfer and Commercialization Unit and Ms. Lucy Dauz, Science Research Specialist II and Coordinator of the DOST-8 MPEX project together with the Biliran Provincial S & T Director, Mr. Romeo L. Dignos.

Cake Decorating assistance

In partnership with experts from the Naval State University in Naval, Biliran, the DOST Biliran facilitated the conduct of training on improvement of cake products of Jornales Bakeshop, a micro enterprise specializing in cakes and pastry, in Biliran town of Biliran province on November 8, 2009.

A total of four formulations for cake, four formulations for cake icing, and decorating techniques were transfered to the proponent who was a beneficiary of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) of DOST. The training was attended by 6 persons who are workers and owners of Jornales Bakeshop and other walk in clients.

Mrs. Ma Lourdes Bacason, from the Naval State University served as the resource person of the training which was coordinated by the school through its Extension Services Office.

DOST 8 is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

After a very tedious process of complying the major requirements for accreditation DOST-8 with its six Provincial Center including Biliran PSTC is finally accorded the ISO 9001:2008 certification this October by Certification International Philippines, Inc. (CIPI). With the certification is the assurance that our services passed a through Quality Management System at par with the rest of quality service providers of the world.

We will be posting more details of the certification sooner.