MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Bukidnon, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Malaybalay, rolled out 12 newly approved grants-in-aid projects amounting to Php 4.8 million in the city under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program on 15 July 2020.
CEST is a DOST program specifically dedicated to alleviating poverty through the provision of appropriate science and technology (S&T) interventions in the following entry points: Economic Development, Health and Nutrition, Disaster Risk Reduction & Management and Climate Change Adaptation, Human Resource Development, and Environmental Protection.
Under the CEST program, Malaybalay received an additional one-ton Bioreactor and Charcoal Briquette Equipment for Solid Waste Management; conducted Complementary Feeding to Malnourished Children in various barangays; STARBOOKS (digital library-in-a-box) and DRRM kits to selected high schools; and the establishment of Processing Facilities for Marginalized Cacao Growers, Adlai Farmers, Dairy Processors, and Hearing-impaired Students and Alumni.
The program will also establish a nursery for abaca and coffee to provide controlled growing conditions for the plantlets. The nursery will serve as the agency’s support to the expanding local market for coffee and abaca in Bukidnon.
DOST-Bukidnon and LGU-Malaybalay envision that by the end of the project duration, the community beneficiary will be empowered, smarter, and more resilient. (Nova Belle Calotes/DOST-Bukidnon/Contact: Ms. Julie Anne H. Baculio, Science Research Specialist I
S&T assistance to Malaybalay. DOST-X grants the city of Malaybalay, Bukidnon Pph 4.8M in assistance under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program. Present during the fund turnover at Malaybalay City Hall are Provincial Science and Technology Director V. M. Fuertes (right), City administrator Herculano Ronolo (2nd from right), City Treasurer Ms. Rosie T. Dumas (2nd from left), and Executive Assistant of the Mayor, Brian Flores.
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Batangas’ egg production industry gets major boosts
from DOST-funded study
By Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII
The town of San Jose in the province of Batangas is known as the Egg Basket of the Philippines since it produces over 70,000 metric tons of eggs each year.
Egg production started as a backyard industry way back in the 1960’s but egg farmers recently evolved into becoming agro-industrial entrepreneurs with the help of the younger generation who introduced the “veterans” to innovative agricultural practices.
In 2009, the people of San Jose were challenged because of the oversupply of eggs in their town that were produced by an estimate of seven million chickens. Fortunately, with the help of the Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative or BEPCO, the egg farmers were able to develop different products from eggs such as liquid egg and frozen egg.
However, in 2017, there were reported cases of Bird Flu infestation that greatly affected the livelihood of most of the resident-farmers in San Jose.
“Milyon-milyong itlog ang natambak sa aming bayan. Kaya napaisip kami kung anong maaaaring gawin sa mga surplus na itlog para mapakinabangan pa ang mga ito,” said Cecille Virtucio, BEPCO Managing Director.
(Millions of eggs piled up in our town. So, we need to figure out what could be done with the surplus of eggs to make the most out of them.)
This paved the way for the collaboration between BEPCO and the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman when they submitted their research proposal to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) under the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy or CRADLE program.
Dr. Patricia V. Azanza, the project leader of the said study and professor at the College of Home Economics in UP Diliman, shared that their goal in this project was to make powder or granules from low-edible shell eggs or that of low-quality.
“Pinag-aralan namin ang kalidad ng mga bulok na itlog o soft-shell egg, maruming itlog o dirty egg, at basag na itlog o checked egg kung alin sa kanila ang maaaring idebelop na pulbos at granule. Bakit natin ninanais na gawing granule at powder ang mga low-value na itlog? Sapagkat mahaba ang shelf life nito kaya matagal itong mapapakinabangan ng industriya at nakadagdag pa rito na sanay na silang gamitin ito,” explained Dr. Azanza.
(We have studied the quality of soft-shell eggs, dirty eggs, and checked eggs and evaluate which of them could be developed into powder and granule. Why do we want to make low-value eggs into granule and powder? It has a long shelf life that the industry can take advantage of it for a longer period.)
According to the study, they found that dirty eggs can be the most ideal and suitable to be developed as granule and powder. BEPCO members had to be taught on how to properly wash and use the eggs so that the product they will sell in the market still has quality and is safe to use.
Said collaboration resulted in the development of Egg White Powder which is ideal for baking cakes and bread. It can also be used in making mayonnaise and meringue.
“Ang aming proyekto sa ilalim ng CRADLE ay nagbigay sa amin ng pagkakataon upang makapagbigay kami (UP Diliman) ng prototype na pulbos sa BEPCO. Matapos nila itong ma-evaluate ay naipamigay na ito sa indutriya sa loob lamang ng tatlong buwan,” said Dr. Azanza.
(Our project under CRADLE gave UP Diliman the chance to provide prototype powder to BEPCO. After their evaluation, it was distributed for the use of the industry in just three months.)
Dr. Azanza added that they will be transferring the developed technologies in bulk to BEPCO once they have adjusted the design of their teaching aide suitable for virtual procedures. Incidentally, the machines developed at the DOST Food Innovation Center in UP Diliman were ones used for the project.
“Napakarami naming natutunan mula sa proyektong ito, bukod sa paggawa ng egg white powder, sa tulong ng DOST at UP Diliman, naging instrumento kaming mga nasa kooperatiba sa pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga egg farmers dito sa aming bayan (San Jose, Batangas) at pagbibigay ng pangmatagalang solusyon sa mga problemang maaaring makaapekto sa kanilang kabuhayan,” said Virtucio.
(We have learned so much from this project, apart from the production of egg white powder, with the help of DOST and UP Diliman, we, in the cooperative, have become instrumental in addressing the needs of our egg farmers here in our town (San Jose, Batangas) and providing long-term solutions to problems that may affect their livelihood. (S&T Media Service)
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Malacañan confers Gawad CES Award to DOST Region II director
When they say that public service is a public trust, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, long time regional director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region II, is an epitome of what a public servant is all about.
The hardworking director of Cagayan Region was recently conferred the Gawad CES Award by the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) of the Civil Service Commission in simple but solemn ceremony at the Malacañan Palace as testament to the unparalleled government service of Director Mabborang.
Director Mabborang dedicated his service to promoting and strengthening the use of science, technology, and innovation in the region to create economic opportunities that will pave the way for inclusive growth and development. He is well known for spearheading the sustainable implementation of one of the DOST’s flagship programs, the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP among the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
This added laurel was also achieved through the effective implementation of the OneSTore, the marketing platform for SETUP beneficiaries to enable them to sell their unique Filipino products here and abroad. Director Mabborang, with a vision of empowering MSMEs by giving them opportunities for growth, also advocated the development of the OneSTore.ph, the first government e-commerce portal in the country that enables local MSMEs to market their products for free to more clients.
Moreover, the dedication of Director Mabborang to research and development (R&D) was instrumental to the installation of an R&D Unit in the Regional Office; proactive engagement with the consortia composed of the academe and other industry stakeholders; and establishment of R&D Centers.
Lastly, Director Mabborang currently holds the chairpersonship of the Regional Research and Development Committee that also contributed to his getting the award because his position enabled him to sustain and nurture a thriving R&D ecosystem in the region.
The humble regional S&T director believes that this award is another milestone, not only for him but, for the entire regional office and the different Provincial S&T Centers composed of equally dedicated staff and officers. In fact, Director Mabborang also dedicates the award to all science workers with the hope that it will serve as an inspiration to every employee to work the extra mile in the name of public service.
Other awardees who shared the same virtual stage are DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara and Dr. Alexander R. Madrigal, regional director of DOST IV-A. Gawad CES recognition includes a plaque with the Presidential Seal, a statuette, and a prize money amounting to P100,000.00.
GAWAD CES award is a Presidential award that recognizes members in the Career Executive Service (CES) for their exemplary performance and significant contributions in the fields of innovation, information and communication technology, administrative reforms, social services, and public policy. It also recognizes exceptional accomplishments of government employees to encourage consistent performance and to promote excellence in the CES community.
The award was created under Executive Order No. 715 that was signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 28 March 2008. The said order effectively upgraded the former recognition program in the CES which is the Search for Outstanding CEO. (S& Media Service)
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