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

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.