In cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology and held at the Philippine International Convention Center,homegrown minds who came back to serve the country converge in its 8 annual program convention.
His excellency President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos JR. Had the keynote speech before DOST Sec Renato U Solidum Jr. Dr. Leah H. Buendia the Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation and OIC of the office of the Undersecretary. Dr. Solidum also had the welcoming remarks.
There are three plenary sessions including the agricultural, aquatic and natural resources, the health science Ancd the Industry energy and emerging technology.
President says in his speech that now more than ever we need the intervention of science technology and innovation for the current problems that confronted us.
He also says that he is in full support of the balik scientist program urging experts from abroad to come back to the country and help in nation building.
DZMJ Online has interviewed three Balik Scientists in three councils namely : Philippine Council for Agriculture Aquatic and natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and Philippine Council for Industry Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD)
The focus of her research engagement is to gain better understanding of the population of biological fungal plant pathogens causing disease epidemics of economically important crops in the Philippines by developing molecular markers and subsequent establishment of recommendations for the implementation of cost effective control.
For 15 years has been engaged in research in cell biologyspecifically in the use of mammalian cells in providing scientific evidence for the effects of foods and medicinal plants on health.
In his presentation entitled Urban Mobility Planning of Tomorrow he has devised a solution to the worsening traffic situation in the country particularly in Metro Manila.
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Pinoy-made Mobile Lab to detect animal diseases to be donated to Bukidnon
A scientific solution on wheels to detect animal diseases like the African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza (AI) is on its way to Bukidnon.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) Program funded the Mobile Laboratory Unit (MLU) equipped with state-of-the-art animal health diagnostic technologies. It was designed and created by a local veterinary research and diagnostics company known as BioAssets Corporation. The MLU will be donated to Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon on Friday, October 28, 2022 during a Grand Launching and Turnover Ceremony.
The mobile biocontainment laboratory, the first of its kind in the country, will initially provide service for both hog and poultry breeders in Bukidnon. An estimate of 5-10 farms per day requiring diagnostic tests for livestock can be served by the MLU. The test is equivalent to having 150 – 250 samples pooled and tested in one site. Its establishment will support rapid response to potential outbreaks and improve capacity building and disease surveillance that would enable farmers and veterinarians to craft mitigation strategies, preventive and control measures at the point of need.
The partnership between CMU and BioAssets Corporation, led by Dr. Homer Pantua, BioAssets Corporation CEO, BIST Project Leader, and Balik Scientist, and the creation of the MLU under the S4C- BIST Program are essential pieces in the establishment of national program on disease surveillance. Such program will help the farmers by protecting their animals, and the general public by establishing a preventive and control measures for potential zoonotic diseases.
The province of Bukidnon is recorded to have had the highest production of 137.28 thousand metric tons liveweight in 2021. Currently there are 16,007 backyard hog raisers and 71 commercial hog raisers across its 22 municipalities. In December 2021, a total of 251 poultry farms have also been recorded to be operating in the province. With the significant number of hog and poultry raisers present in Bukidnon, it is necessary that the first-ever MLU be made available in the area to support their disease diagnostics needs.
The Science for Change- BIST Program provides financial assistance to Filipino private companies for the acquisition of strategic and relevant technologies so they can undertake R&D. The financial assistance, which may be used to purchase high-tech equipment or to secure technology licensing and/or patent rights, will be refunded to DOST at zero percent interest.
For companies who are also seeking to explore the benefits of the DOST S4C-BIST Program, you may contact the DOST-Science for Change Project Management Office at 2/F ADMATEL Bldg., DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City, with telephone numbers (02) 8837-2943/ 8837-2930. You may also send an email to s4c.ousecrd@dost.gov.ph or visit the S4C Facebook page at @dost.s4cp.
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DOST invites you to watch the pilot episode of S&T Features
S&T Fellows Program to showcase Mental Health Research
“Mental Health is our agenda.”
This is the theme of the pilot episode of the Science & Technology (S&T) Features to be premiered on 25 October 2022, 10 A.M. via Facebook Page of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) S&T Fellows Program.
In line with the recent celebration of the Mental Health Week in the country, the first episode will showcase the research and development studies on Mental Health in the Philippines. The online discussion will put a spotlight on the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s (DOST-PCHRD) efforts in creating the National Mental Health Research Agenda as well as their current R&D initiatives.
“Two years since the inception of the DOST S&T Fellows Program, the S&T Features will highlight the contributions of our brilliant hired S&T Fellows. By featuring the Fellows’ current R&D projects and programs, we hope to encourage more Filipino S&T experts to join us in the program and help us in shaping the country’s R&D landscape,” remarked Dr. Leah J. Buendia, Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation and Officer-in-Charge of Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development.
“This is a good opportunity for us to discuss Mental Health as a research agenda. We have been hearing promotions and advocacies on Mental Health awareness but seldom on the research that is happening in the country,” said Dr. Sarah Jane Jimenez, S&T Fellows assigned to DOST-PCHRD. Dr. Jimenez will lead and moderate the online discussion.
In addition, among the guest speakers are Mr. Jules Carl Celebrado, Program Head of the Mental Health R&D Program in DOST-PCHRD and Dr. Arsenio Alianan, Jr., Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology in Ateneo De Manila University and a member of the Mental Health Research Advisory Group (MHRAG).
The S&T Features is an online activity which aims to promote the S&T Fellows Program by showcasing the accomplishments and involvement of the S&T Fellows in their respective DOST agencies.
To watch the pilot episode, kindly visit this link: https://tinyurl.com/STFeatureEpisode1 and click “Going” to be notified when we go live.
To know more about the DOST S&T Fellows Program, please follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DOST.STFellows. For inquiries, you may send us a message via email at sntfellows@dost.gov.ph
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