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Planting and harvesting will soon be easier for local farmers, even in the face of climate change, with the advent of more reliable and technologically advanced weather forecasting methods.

These high-impact solutions come in the form of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) newly acquired supercomputer complemented with the latest weather modeling software.

This development was revealed by DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo during the recent Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

“The first significant development is that we already have a supercomputer which will be operational this fourth quarter of this year. With this type of facility, we will be able to use advanced weather modeling software that will not only enhance weather predictions from three days to six days, but it could also be more accurate, it could be area specific, and what we are working on is to have a seasonal weather outlook on specific areas for three to six months to help our farmers,” said Secretary Montejo.

The three- to six-month weather projections, to be issued by DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Service Administration (DOST-PAGASA), will be on top of its weekly weather forecasts. This will provide farmers with information on the amount of rainfall on specific areas within the next three to six months.

Also, these top-flight technologies will enable PAGASA weather scientists to come up with integrated weather pattern information specifically to guide farmers on the best time to plant and harvest crops, thus greatly aiding them with their farming-related decisions and activities.

These groundbreaking developments, said Sec. Montejo, will take off by 2014 with the supercomputer’s initial operation on the fourth quarter of 2013.

Agricultural losses caused by climate change
Erratic weather conditions, an after-effect of global climate change, have affected many farmers resulting in billions worth of damaged agricultural products annually.

In 2012 alone, an estimated total of Php30 billion worth of agricultural products were lost in the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha (Pablo). The Department of Agriculture reported that an estimated Php197 million worth of rice crops were damaged due to the typhoon.

Rice, a staple food in the country, is normally grown for three to six months depending on the rice variety, and requires an average of 2,000 liters of water per kilo of rice for its growth.

The Philippines ranks 8th among the world’s rice producers. In 2007, the country produced an average of 3.8 tons per hectare of rice, more than what Thailand produces.


SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE AT THE KAPIHAN SA DIAMOND HOTEL

Department of Science and Technology Secretary (DOST) Mario G. Montejo (middle) describes to veteran columnist Neal Cruz (right) how DOST can help farmers mitigate agricultural losses during monsoon season at the recent Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Manila. Sec. Montejo explained that DOST-PAGASA is continuously enhancing its weather forecasting capabilities by providing a three- to six-month coverage period for weather projection and weather pattern information dissemination on specific areas of the country. Also in photo is DOST-PAGASA Officer-In-Charge Vicente Malano. (Photo by Joy M. Lazcano, S&T Media Service, STII)

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The recent celebration of the Metals and Engineering Week wheeled-in two new automotive-related service centers by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology. Called the Finite Element Analysis Design Center and the Die and Mold Solution Center, the facilities are among the transportation solutions initiated by DOST to help accelerate the country’s transportation industry.

According to DOST-MIRDC, the automotive centers are now being developed at the DOST Complex in Taguig City, and will be fully implemented by next year.

“Our advanced transport solutions are not exactly rocket science as, when one looks closely, they are actually straightforward engineering and metalworking applications. We want to overcome the thought barrier that Filipinos cannot produce this [kind of transportation], as we have the capabilities and know-how to [perfect] them,” said Secretary Montejo.

The Finite Element Analysis Design Center will serve as the government’s main laboratory for the upgrading of customized local road vehicles (CLRVs) such as tricycles, jeepneys, and mini buses, through testing, safety and structural design improvement. The center also aims to address environmental safety aspect of CLRV’s as well as develop expertise in finite element analysis or FEA, which refers to the modeling of products and systems in a virtual environment, for the purpose of finding and solving potential or existing structural or performance issues.

Meanwhile, the Die and Mold Solution Center aims to sustain local manpower in die and mold manufacturing and design by providing continual training. With these objectives combined with the advanced facilities and technologies housed inside, the center is expected to augment the productivity of the tool and die industry and make the Philippines establish a stronger footing in the global scene. At present, Japan, China, and South Korea are global leaders in the tool and die manufacturing sector.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino commended DOST for its transportation technology program. “DOST deserves the highest commendation. Our current metro trains have a capacity of 300,000 but are now servicing 700,000 people daily. And given the uncontrolled proliferation of vehicles despite our number coding schemes, clearly, the solution here is better mass transportation,” he reiterated.

Mass transportation solutions
DOST-MIRDC also presented three other new locally developed trains — road train, railroad train, and the automated guideway transit system (AGT), which will be highlighted in a booth during the upcoming 2013 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) to be held July 23-27 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.


Mounted annually by DOST, NSTW 2013 aims to showcase the various high-impact S&T-based solutions crafted by the Department for the country’s most pressing problems – from transportation and other social services, to climate change, food security, industry competitiveness, and poverty alleviation.

For more information about the 2013 NSTW as well as DOST technologies, please contact Public Affairs Unit of the Science and Technology Information Institute at (02) 837-2071 local 2142.

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Looking for a job? The world of business process outsourcing (BPO) might be the best place for you. At the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office’s (DOST-ICTO) “Career Talk”, find out your chances and opportunities in this field where Filipinos excel.

“Career Talk”, to be held on July 25, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, will feature lively discussions with resource persons who had made a niche in this field. Aside from sharing their experiences, resource persons will also help participants assess their interests, personality, skills, and values to guide them in embarking on an IT-BPO career.

The event will have two parts, namely the Startup Dynamics (1:30pm-3:30pm) and IT-BPO Career Talks (3:30 PM-7:00PM). The Startup Dynamics will focus on starting up a business though the emergence of online media. College students, young professionals, and business-minded people will learn the rudiments of starting and managing their own business.

The forum will also give the audience a broader view about the IT-BPO sector in the country. The call center segment may be the most popular and successful in the sector, but the rest are also quickly catching up, such as
opportunities and outlook on other segments including: animation, game development, health information management and software development as represented by each respective association.
Panel members and speakers for this forum include representatives from: Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Animation Council of the Philippines, Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Health Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, Philippines Software Industry Association.

Dubbed as the the Philippine Expo Science 2013, this year’s theme of NSTW: Science and Technology Innovation : The Road to Smarter Philippines. It will be held on July 23-27, 2013 at SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Pasay city.

The NSTW features S&T fairs and exhibits, and other events in different venues to give audiences updates on what’s going-on within the local science community.

Started as Philippine National Science Week in the 1950s and instituted in 1982, the NSTW is an annual celebration that features the latest breakthroughs in the Philippine science community.

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Starting in the late 1990s, the arresting beauty of skeletonized leaves has captured the imagination of local handicraft artists and clients. The items have become a popular material for accenting stationery, packaging, lighting fixtures, furniture and all sorts of decorative and novelty products.


The efforts of the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) have been a big help in popularizing skeletonized leaves. Over the last decade, the Institute has trained around 1,500 people nationwide on a new method of leaf skeletonizing.


Up close, the leaf skeleton is made up of a complex of very fine veins, the intricate patterns of which rival those of expensive laces.


Says Mr. Cesar O. Austria, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST-FPRDI’s Technical Services Division, “Using the old technique, heavily-veined leaves are skeletonized by soaking them in cold water for three to five weeks or burying them in mud until their fleshy pulp has dissolved and only the veins remain.”


“FPRDI modified this procedure and came up with a faster, easier version. One simply boils fresh leaves in caustic soda solution until the soft tissues are dissolved and only the skeletons remain. These are then bleached to remove their natural color and prepare them for dyeing.”


Salay Handmade Paper Industries, Inc. (SHAPII), one of the country’s top exporters of handmade paper products, uses leaf skeletons to decorate their greeting cards, fans, frames, notebooks and boxes.


SHAPII is a multi-awarded company that ships its products to major markets in the US and Europe. It is known for its eco-friendly practices and for providing jobs to many men and women in the town of Salay in Misamis Oriental, according to Austria.


“Skeletonized leaves are certainly a welcome addition to the raw material stock of the handicraft industry and DOST-FPRDI is happy to have helped the many small and very small shops all over the country which now make them using the newer technique,” observes Austria.

Worldwide, the country continues to be a leader in handicraft production. According to Mr. Dennis Orlina of the Philippine Chamber of Handicraft Industries, Inc. (PCHI), our exporters plan to tap new markets in South America, Africa, Russia and Vietnam as they aim for a 10-percent growth in shipments this year. Last year, Philippine handicraft exports were estimated to have reached US$130 million.

For those interested in the new technique of producing skeletonized leaves may contact DOST-FPRDI at 63 495362360 (telephone) or 63 495363630 (telefax) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Skeletonized leaves and other handicrafts that have improved quality due to DOST’s technology intervention will be on exhibit during the National Science and Technology Week, 23-27 July 2013 at the SMX Convention Center. Also called the “ExpoScience 2013”, the NSTW will feature various fora, technology demonstrations, quiz shows and other exciting events for everyone. Entrance is free and most of the events are open to the general public.

Sample products:

Bio-tree

Butterfly jars

Cacao lampshades

Square vase