The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) approves the international standard on graphical symbols for use on equipment (ISO 7000) as Philippine National Standard (PNS) ISO 7000:2020.
The PNS ISO 7000 database provides a collection of graphical symbols which are placed on equipment or parts of equipment of any kind in order to instruct the person(s) using the equipment as to its operation. It includes symbols for all types of equipment, from automobiles and home entertainment products to earth-moving machinery.
Each graphical symbol is identified by a reference number and contains a title, graphical representations in vectorized and non-vectorized formats, and some additional data as applicable, such as the function or the description of the symbol, the intended use, related symbols or publications. Various search and navigation facilities allow for easy retrieval of graphical symbols.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) versions are also currently freely available in read-only format at the ISO website https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#search/grs/.
The DTI-BPS is the National Standards Body of the Philippines. It is the Philippines’ member to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
For more information on standards and standardization activities of BPS, please visit the DTI-BPS Portal at http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/ and follow our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/phstandards/. You may also call the DTI-BPS at (02) 7751.4700 or send an email to bps@dti.gov.ph. END
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DOST-PHIVOLCS LAUNCHES ITS LATEST DRR TOOL
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE M7.8 1990 LUZON EARTHQUAKE
The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) will commemorate the M7.8 1990 Luzon Earthquake on its 30th year this July 16 with the launch of GeoMapperPH.
On July 16, 1990, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake badly hit the provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, NuevaEcija and Baguio City, and as far as Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Bicol Region. The earthquake produced a 125km-long ground rupture along the Digdig segment of the Philippine Fault. The 45-second strong ground shaking caused multiple structural damages including the collapse of the Hyatt Hotel in Baguio City. Around 1,200 people were killed by the various impacts.
Throughout the years, DOST-PHIVOLCS has strengthened its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) efforts with enhanced seismic monitoring capability that allows for faster and more accurate delivery of earthquake information. The Institute started out with only 12 seismic stations when the earthquake monitoring function was transferred from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in 1984. Now with 104 stations, it continuously expands the Philippine Seismic Network with additional earthquake monitoring stations equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Its latest web-based tool, GeoMapperPH, will be launched through an online press conference dubbed as Infosentro sa PHIVOLCS that will be live-streamed via PHIVOLCS Facebook Page. GeoMapperPH is a web and mobile application designed to collect and update natural hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and coping capacity data. It empowers authorities to make comprehensive, appropriate, and well-informed decisions and actions for disaster management.
Also in line with the 30th year commemoration, PHIVOLCS encourages those who have original photos of the 1990 Luzon Earthquake to join our photo-sharing activity (https://bit.ly/2O7tKKJ) and watch our InfoBit webinar about earthquake information on July 15, 2020, 09:00 AM via PHIVOLCS FB Live.
For information, please contact: Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr.
Undersecretary, DOST and Officer-In-Charge, PHIVOLCS (+632) 8-426-1468 to 79 loc 203, 302
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DOST R&D activity has intensified in the Regions with NICER Program
From a ratio of 80% research in the past coming from NCR and 20% only in the regions, the tables have turned as the regions shot up to 73% research while NCR had only 27%. This was revealed in the weekly DOST report presented in the DOSTv Facebook page last July 10, 2020. The episode featured DOST’s NICER Program or Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D designed to encourage Filipinos to strengthen R&D engagement in the regions.
Proponents of R&D Niche Centers in Luzon Visayas and Mindanao focusing on agriculture, aquatic, marine resources and the environment presented in the hour-long show the strides in their respective research hubs located their areas
NICHE CENTERS IN THE REGIONS FOR R&D (NICER) PROGRAM
While the Philippines cannot ignore the emergence of new technologies from industries, there is a compelling need to be more vigilant and innovative in finding S%T solutions during the current global pandemic in order to neutralize the adverse effects of the crisis in the country particularly to our economy. Thus DOST has rolled out Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program. Sec Boy encouraged Filipinos to make use of S&T, “gamitin ng agham at teknolohiya ang mga pangunahing produkto, proseso o serbisyo sa kanilang rehiyon, para pabilisin ang pag-angat ng kanilang ekonomiya”.
A. NICHE CENTER IN LUZON
For Luzon we have the Tamarind Center of Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) which was built as a research center for tamarind. According to its University President Dr. Honorio Soriano Jr., current studies are mainly to address the lack of supply for raw materials. He shared how tamarind is getting very much in-demand in their area. One food processing company for example needs to export 8,000 tons of tamarind byt the current supply
Hoping to uphold the claim of the town of Magalang, Pampanga as the Tamarind capital of the Philippines, research are being conducted on both the sweet tamarind for desserts and the sour fruit as cooking ingredient in some of native dishes. Also studies are made for dwarfing of tamarind trees which often grow tall and therefore might require bigger costs for manpower and equipment to harvest the fruits located at the top part of the trees.
B. NICHE CENTER IN VISAYAS
Visayas boasts of a fertile environment that has brought about to the island’s rich biodiversity. Dr. Archibald Malaki of the Biodiversity R&D Center in Cebu Technological University (CTU) mentioned food shortage, economic value, illegal logging, flora and fauna species identification and preservation as some of the issues being addressed by the center. The center’s capability to collect baseline information onf Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) of Cebu Island is an advantage. “kung mayroon tayong sapat na kaalaman tungkol sa terrestrial biodiversity sa Cebu island, matutukoy natin ang mas madaming native food products na maaaring makuha at makatulong punan ang food shortage sa rehiyon lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya dulot ng covid-19”.
Dr. Malaki proudly shared the center’s three newly-found faunal species (2 ground orchids and 1 vine specie) which have pharmaceutical potentials and pose high economic value. The team has drafted the article on this for publication and intends to name one of the newly found orchid species after Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST’s Undersecretary for Research.
C. NICHE CENTER IN MINDANAO
Sea Cucumber R&D Center in MSU-Naawan, Misamis Oriental focuses on two species, H. Scabra (Sandfish) and H. Fuscogilva (Teatfish) both with high potential market since Mindanao has substantial resources especially for traders. Processed sea cucumbers called Trepan/beche-de-mer is of high demand in Asian Cuisine, costing from PhP4,000 to PhP8,000 per kilo, or even more expensive when with the rare kinds.
Dr. Wilfredo Uy of MSU-Naawan, however revealed that majority of the sea cucumbers traded worldwide were collected from the wilds resulting in the decline of natural stocks. “As a pilot project isa sa aming programa ay palaguin ang sea cucumber sa fishpond gami ang modern design, at mas pinalaking capacity ng aming hatchery.” When asked about the facilities developed in the center, Dr Uy shared that MSU would be able to provide enough seed materials to promote livelihood options for our coastal community such as ocean nursery and sea ranching with local partners”
SEC. FTP’s REPORT
Concentrating on the four pillars of development namely Health (Kalusugan), Order (Kaayusan), Livelihood (Kabuhayan) and future outlook (Kinabukasan), Secretary Fortunato de la Peña gave his weekly DOST Report update to fight the pandemic.
In the health area, test analysis had been done on possible vaccines Hydroxychloroquine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir which were later considered ineffective against COVID-19 and therefore not recommended for use. However, trials for Remdesevir and Interferon are still on-going. 600 patients from 22 hospitals in the Philippines are participating in World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity Trials making the country to rank 5th largest number of participants joining the trials.
Other DOST initiatives include AI powered thermal scanners which can detect a person’s temperature even in groups; livelihood opportunities from DOST-PCAARRD such as backyard tilapia farming, mudcrab fattening cum fish culture and also catfish production . Sec. Boy de la Peña also mentioned several webinars that help our countrymen not only survive the crisis but come out more equipped in terms of know-how and opportunities for the future. “Gamitin ang agham at teknolohiya ang mga pangunahing produkto, proseso o serbisyo sa kanilang rehiyon, upang pabilisin ang pag-angat ng kanilang ekonomiya”, the Secretary said.