February 3, 2021- Commemoration of 94th Birth Anniversary of Stateman, one of the Bulacan great pride former Senate President, Foreign Affairs Secretary and Former President of International Labour Organization and Father of Philippine Labor code Blas F. Ople at Gat Blas F. Ople building in Capitol Compound, City of Malolos.
Wreath- Laying Ceremony on Bulakeño Stateman Blas Fajardo Ople with the present of Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III, Governor Daniel Fernando, Vice Governor Willy Sy-Alvarado, Ople wife Susana, son Felix, Board Member Jong Ople and PA Antonette Constantino.
Moreover, Labor Chief Bello leading the inauguration of the Bulacan Public Employment Service Office (PESO) building in Malolos, Bulacan, the first of its kind stand-alone facility in Central Luzon, Bello thanked the province of Bulacan led by Governor Daniel Fernando for ensuring that DOLE programs and services reach workers and jobseekers, through the PESOs.
At the same time, Bello challenged the Bulacan Provincial PESO “to push forth with the full institutionalization of the remaining 17 LGU-based PESOs in your province.” Every February 3 of the year the Malacañan proclaimed as special non working holiday in the province of Bulacan.
As mark of celebration on natal day anniversary of Blas Ople. Ople as a son of Bulacan well emulated as devoted decades of his life to selfless and dedicated service to the country and to the fellow people.
MJ Olvina- Balaguer of DZMJ Online, Makabuluhang Jornalismo your hapiness channel +639053611058, maryjaneolvina@gmail.com
DOST’s SPARTA leads to upskill 30k workers to adapt to technological advancement
By Joy M. Lazcano, DOST-STII
With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation that are out to disrupt several traditional jobs, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has already taken steps in providing innovative ways for workers to retool and build new skills in order to adapt to the changing labor market landscape in the country.
According to a study conducted by tech giant Cisco and Oxford Economics, about 1.1 million jobs in the Philippines will be replaced due to advancement in technology by the year 2028.
DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, during a recent virtual presser organized by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Sub-Task Group on Economic Recovery, revealed that the Science Department has prepared for this and launched Project SPARTA or Smarter Philippines through Data Analytics Research and Development, Training and Adoption in 2019. The program aims to upgrade the skills of an initial 30,000 workers by 2022, primarily to address this inevitable scenario.
SPARTA is similar to Coursera, an educational platform that offers online courses for free in partnership with top universities and organizations worldwide.
De la Peña explained that SPARTA was conceptualized to upgrade skills and equip workers with new capabilities in data science, data analytics, AI, and other related fields. The program opened the 30,000 slots for training of interested individuals who wish to take up data science, data analytics, AI, and other related fields as the labor market shifts more to digital technology.
“We hope that through this program, we could retool those who will be affected by the global growth of AI,” said de la Peña.
He also added that those who graduated from the program are required to take capstone projects to benefit the government. Capstone project simply refers to a multi-faceted project, like a thesis, that can serve as a culminating academic and intellectual experience or exercise for the students.
To date, SPARTA has already generated 23,000 enrollees where 600 have already finished their respective courses.
Recently, DOST offered 75,000 slots on Coursera. “We rank fifth in the ability to finish the (Coursera) program,” says de la Peña.
SPARTA is implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines together with the Analytics Association of the Philippines, and DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). (S&T Media Service)
DOST-X Empowers GIDA IP Community in Opol, Mis Or
The Local Government Unit of Opol received a total of 1.145 million project funds from the DOST-X Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program as the agency’s support to provide science and technology intervention to the municipality.
Barangay Cauyonan is one of the geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas within Opol City. Indigenous people living in the area have limited access to quality healthcare services. This limitation increased the risk of malnutrition and stunting growth among their children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Similarly, their livelihood opportunities are also scarce. Poverty is highly prevalent since most residents rely on the marginal farming activity as their source of income.
To empower the marginalized community, DOST-Misamis Oriental and LGU-Opol partnered to introduce two projects that focus on the livelihood, health, and nutrition components of Barangay Cauyonan.
One of the projects is designated to assist the Cauyonan Farmers Association (CFA) entitled, “CEST Support for the Development of Moriculture and Sericulture Farms and Establishment of Banana Food Processing Facility in Brgy. Cauyonan, Opol, Misamis Oriental – D2”. It aims to provide economic and income-generating activities to the community and help eradicate hunger and poverty.
The second project entitled, “Nutr-I: S&T Intervention Through Nutribun, Iron-Fortified Rice and Iodized Salt for the Improvement of Health and Nutrition Status of the Cauyonan Community in Opol, Misamis Oriental – D2”, is an S&T intervention on health and nutrition. It aims to provide an immediate response to the health and nutrition needs of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and malnourished children between ages two (2) to 10 years old.
These CEST projects would serve as fuel for the Cauyonan community to unlock their developmental potentials. Through science, technology, innovation, and collaboration with the local government, empowerment and progress will always be at hand. (Karen Grace A. Lacerna, DOST-Misamis Oriental)
