Author: Raffy Rico

RDA expert visit to the Philippines

By Estrella Z. Gallardo Dr. InJeong Kang six-day visit to the Philippines under the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD)-Rural Development Administration (RDA) Exchange Scientists/Experts Mission Program on March 28, 2015. This Exchange of Scientists/Experts Mission Program is an important collaborative activity to facilitate knowledge exchange and experiential learning of both Filipino and Korean scientists/experts on focused areas under the PCAARRD-RDA Work Plan of Cooperation for 2015-2016. Kang, Research Scientist at the National Institute of Crops Science (NICS) arrived at PCAARRD on March 23, 2015 to acquire information on the extent/incidence of bacterial...

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DOST-PCAARRD Clean-Up Day

By Estrella Z. Gallardo 1Motivated by this, cleanliness in the office premises proved to be one of the most important issues and concerns of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) 2 Led by new Acting Executive Director of PCAARD Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, His staff momentarily set aside office works and teamed up in a Clean-up on the day said. 3 This Cleanup was the result of a survey conducted in March 2015, emerging as one of the most important issues and concerns It also...

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Mr. 3 Point Player Feeling Proud

MR. 3 POINT PLAYER DANNY CARLOS CHAN, FEELING PROUD with Mr. Paul Fabritz of Arizona, USA. Welcome to the Philippines, Sir Paul! Enjoy your Stay! BASKETBALL SKILLS & PERFORMANCE COACH OF TODAY’S TOP NBA & NCAA ATHLETES, Mr. Paul Fabritz of Unlimited Sports Performance Center...

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Efforts to continue Meteorology Course lauded

The Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan or AGHAM, Inc. lauded the effort of Malacanang to continue the offering of Bachelor of Science in Meteorology thru previously identified state universities. The pilot batch of students started in 2011 and completed the course in 2014. “We are grateful and appreciative of President Aquino’s support to science and technology, particularly the B. S. Meteorology Course,” AGHAM Pres. Angelo Palmones said. Palmones said the importance of having a continuing supply of human resource in meteorology is highlighted by the fact that the country is visited by more than 20 typhoons annually, and by the prevailing worldwide concern on climate change. “Let us also consider another truth that we are fast losing our meteorologists and meteorology experts to foreign countries,” Palmones added. The first of its kind in Asia, the pioneering program is a collaborative undertaking of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Science Education Institute (SEI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Bicol University (BU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Visayas State University (VSU), and AGHAM Inc. The pilot B.S. Meteorology course was included under the DOST-SEI Junior Level Scholarship Program. All sixteen scholars graduated last March 2014, and who are now employed in both government and private institutions. “The B.S. Meteorology program...

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Livelihood programs in Zamboanga Peninsula during the sardines closed season

By: Estrella Z. Gallardo   Zamboanga Peninsula, sardines capital of the Philippines continually ensure the abundant supply of sardines An administrative circular on sardines was implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Dubbed as “sardines closed season”, the circular prohibits the killing,catching,selling buying of even possessing any sardines caught from East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait, and Sibugey Bay. Affected fisherfolk who are dependent on sardines can instead, during the closed season, avail themselves of altenative livelihood assistance provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region IX and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) The closed season has been implemented since 2010 and runs from November 1 to February 1 each year. During this period, BFAR provides fisherfolk the option to cultvate seaweed by providing seaweed seedlings, seaweed farm, as well as postharvest facilities including a smokehouse, elevated fish solar dryers, and seaweed stilt dryers. Moreover, BFAR encourages fisherfolk to plant mangrove trees as part of their target of planting more than one million mangrove trees in Zamboanga Peninsula. Each mangrove propagules planted can be monetized from BFAR. Meanwhile, Dole implemented the kabuhayan program, which promotes entrepreneurship through training and provision of livelihood tools. “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) Program” is another initiative of DOLE, which provides displaced, underemployed, and unemployed workers with emergency employment...

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Ebora on Leadership

By: Estrella Z. Gallardo   Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora new Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture,Aquatic and natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) when asked about leadership simply said four work “I lead by example. There is no better way , he said to lead people than showing and practicing himself those things he wishes them to adopt. Highly qualified personnel have much potential to be better at what they do and he aims to home this potential through capability building and doing the role model himself. Ebora through with limitations just like others lives by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you”. He knows too there is much to be learned, but he relies on experience and support from previous leaders of the Council and ask his staff for their cooperation and patience as he institute change to more efficient. He is not new to the DOST system, He served as the Executive Director of the former Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD) now part of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), from November 2005 to July...

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Organic Fertilizer from seaweed drippings

By: Estrella Z. Gallardo Seaweed, aside from being used as food can be used as foliar organic fertilizer for crop. An organic foliar fertilizer derived from the drippings of kappaphycus alvarezil, a variety of seaweed was developed by the Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) named kappaphycus drippings or KD Foliar Fertilizer. KD contains nutrients that contribute to soil fertility, including nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. The use of this fertilizer can improve the yield of rice, baby corn, soybean, mungbean, sweet pepper, cauliflower, mango, pechay, and orchid. As to pechay ,it can increase the number of leaves and leaf area index of said plant. KD foliar fertilizer only needs seaweed plastic bag and direct sunlight to prepare. A kilo of Kappaphycus seaweed can yield 650ml of liquid fertilizer. In using the fertilizer, 20 ml of dripping showed be mixed in a liter of water and can be sprayed directly to the plant early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The spray should be applied until the plant is drippings wet. KD foliar fertilizer, 100% organic as it is does not spoil compared with other fertilizer that spoil after a certain period of Time. Meanwhile, a liter of KD fertilizer can be sold for P75. Fisher folks growing seaweed with the low cost of producing the fertilizer...

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SSS opens second branch in Mandaluyong City

The Social Security System (SSS) has inaugurated its second branch in Mandaluyong City on June 5, 2015 to serve about 23,000 members in the area. SSS Mandaluyong-Shaw located at 2/F, 500 Shaw Zentrum, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City will be serving around 23,789 employees and 1,935 employers covering the areas of Wack-Wack, Addition Hills, Pleasant Hills, and even parts of Greenhills and Edsa-Shaw. The area is known for its numerous commercial and business establishments such as hotels, malls, Business Processing Outsourcing (BPOs) and high-rise residential/ condominium units. The branch will receive and screen membership applications, registration and coverage of household...

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39th National MILO Marathon, aarangkada na!

ASAHAN na ang pakikiisa ng sambayanang Filipino sa taunang marathon ng bayan, ang National MILO Marathon na nasa ika-39 na taon. Starting now, MILO opens a news way to get to the world of #Champion secret. Sa nakalipas na taon 2014, pinangunahan ng number one beverage brand MILO sa pamamahala nina Coach Rio dela Cruz, National MILO Marathon Race Organizer; Sherilla Bayona, Nestle Philippines Beverages Unit, Business Executive Manager; Robbie de Vera, MILO Sports Marketing Executive; at Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager ang media launch na ginanap sa Bayview Hotel, Manila. Sa nakaraang 38th NMM at ika-50 taong...

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Synergizing Halal thru S&T

By Estrella Z. Gallardo “Synergizing Halal thru S&T the events theme, is a statement of our determination to collaboration with local and international program in leveraging Science,Technology and Innovation to bring about on internationally accepted,regulatory framework for a reliable and credible Philippine Halal Premium and The Deparment of Science and Technology The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in collaborating with the National Commission for Muslim Filipina (NCMF) in priming up the country for the global Halal Industry signed a memorandum of agreement with NCMF on june 3, 2015 (opening of the 3-day event)of the Philippine Halal Assembly, DOST...

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