The Department of Science and Technology Region II (DOST II) launches the OneSTore Hub during the virtual celebration of the 2020 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on November 23, 2020, live-streamed on the NSTW Facebook page.
The new OneSTore Hub welcomes the participation of the Agrizkaya Cooperative Federation that caters to the needs of primary cooperatives and is engaged in organic production and marketing of various products.
Joining the launch of Agrizkaya as OneSTore Hub partner are DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña; Director Sancho A. Mabborang, DOST Regional Office II; Engr. Jonathan R. Nuetsro, Provincial Science and Technology Director-Nueva Vizcaya; Hon. Pepito D. Balgos, Municipal Mayor, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.; Hon. Luisa Cuaresma Congresswoman, Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya; and Dr. Nieto P. Bacena, Chairperson of Agrizkaya.
OneSTore Hub is part of OneSTore.ph which is an e-commerce web application that operates nationwide and caters primarily to Philippine consumers. It provides customers with an effortless shopping experience and retailers with simple and direct access to one of the largest customer-based platforms in the country. OneSTore is one of the flagship programs of the DOST that assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to improve their productivity and widen the scope of their target market.
Incidentally, Agrizkaya Cooperative Federation is named as the Diocesan Cooperative Development Council Inc. through the initiative of Fr. Paul Bollen, a Belgian missionary and Parish Priest. The Diocesan Cooperative Federation was formed as early as the mid-’80s and was formally organized on 31 July 1991. Today, Agrizkaya has a total membership of 54 primary cooperatives. Agrizkaya is located at Maharlika Highway, Almaguer North, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.
The Federation’s flagship program includes organic agricultural production, processing, and marketing. The federation availed of the assistance from DOST II that includes multi-purpose speed drying trays for fruits and vegetables, technical assistance for production lay-out, and SETUP assistance for the procurement of vacuum fryer for the fruit and vegetable processing. SETUP stands for Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, one of the many initiatives of the DOST that supports MSMEs in terms of technical and financial assistance.
The launch of the OneSTore Hub will be part of DOST’s first-ever virtual celebration of the 2020 NSTW from 23 to 29 November with the theme “Agham at Teknolohiya: Sandigan ng Kalusugan, Kaayusan, Kabuhayan, at Kinabukasan”.
The DOST and the different agencies and regional offices will banner several activities that include a total of 27 virtual fora, workshops, career talks, technology and project launchings, and film showings that will highlight different innovative solutions and new S&T knowledge related to livelihood technologies and enterprise development, agriculture, health and nutrition, education, disaster preparedness, industry development, space technology, and community empowerment.
Visit www.nstw.dost.gov.ph for more information on the events and the virtual exhibits and follow the official Facebook page of NSTW.
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DOST nutribun technology is free for Pinoy entreps
The technology on enhanced nutribun can be given for free to qualified entrepreneurs who have technical capabilities to commercially produce the product. This refers to those with a GMP-compliant facility or working towards it, willing to invest in equipment and raw materials, and has a legal identity, or is a registered and taxpaying company, among others.
“The technology on the production of enhanced nutribun is a ‘public good technology’,” Rosemarie G. Garcia, Chief Science Research Specialist of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI), said.
Based on the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, the 6-9 years old have 63.1% vitamin A inadequacy, while those 10-12 years old have 76.1% vitamin inadequacy. The enhanced nutribun version, which was also initially developed for the undernourished children like the nutribun from the ’70s, can actually also be consumed by healthy Pinoys. The enhanced nutribun is made from squash that is rich in vitamin A, a nutrient that’s lacking in the regular meal of Filipino children.
The enhanced nutribun is not only good for young children, but also for the other population groups, particularly, pregnant and lactating women, and senior citizens. Even the well and healthy population need products like the enhanced nutribun.
Enhanced Nutribun
The Enhanced Nutribun has more micronutrients like iron and vitamin A. The texture is softer and weighs 160- 165 grams per piece, which makes it easier for children to hold and bite. Each serving has 504 calories, 17.8 grams protein, 6.08 milligrams iron and 244 micrograms vitamin A. A piece of enhanced nutribun already provides 60% of the requirements for vitamin A.
Racky Doktor, owner of Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation (NFMC) was among the first to sign up for the Enhanced-Nutribun technology of DOST-FNRI. Their company, which has a mission of helping reduce malnutrition through production and distribution of research-based food technologies, signed up immediately because the product is very nutritious, timely, and needed by both children and adults. Nutridense is one of the many successful enterprises that were assisted by the DOST under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP.
There are already four licensees in Region II: the AJ’s Bread and Pastries; J.A. Fruits and Vegetable Processing; Quirino Livelihood for Everyone (Q-life); and J’s Bakeshop & Delicacies.
On the other hand, there are 14 in Region IV-A: the Gem See’s Cakeshop; Swisspharma Research Laboratories Inc.; San Jose Workers MPC; MRG Food Products/Malou’s Bakery; Magifrance Bakeshop and Café; Doughpro Manufacturing & Trading Corp.; LGU-Mauban, Quezon Province; Panaderia Pantoja, Inc.; Golden Wheat Bakery; El Richard Bakery; Anica’s Home Bread Store; Momilo Mio; Congw. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, MD; and Amira’s Buco Tart Haus.
Since there is no more charge being asked for technology licensing, the primary cost will be the setting up of the facility and the purchase of equipment that will largely depend on the scale of production. DOST-FNRI’s pilot plant engineers will assist the entrepreneurs in terms of the plant lay out and the listing of equipment to be purchased.
Based on the assumptions and computation of DOST-FNRI’s engineers, the return of investment on the enhanced nutribun is more than 30%, and payback period is 2-2.5 years.
In the ’70s, 30 million nutribuns were given to 200,000 children. While DOST-FNRI cannot give the exact number of children who can benefit from its enhanced nutribun, since the distribution will depend on DSWD, DepEd and the LGUs, Garcia said the institute’s rough and conservative estimate is that one million children would benefit from the product.
“We have more malnourished children now, than in the 70’s,” Garcia said.
DOST-FNRI is a research and development institute that developed the product and is ready to transfer it to capable partners who will then commercialize the product to its intended customers. For the enhanced nutribun, DepEd, DSWD and DTI expressed full support for the product. Incidentally, DepEd and DSWD have already the funds to give the products to the children for free through their school and supplementary feeding programs, respectively.
The nutrition institute invites Filipino entrepreneurs to partner with them in commercializing and producing the enhanced nutribun, and bring it not only to school children, but to all those who want nutrition in a bun!
Moreover, other DOST technologies developed for adoption by MSMEs will be featured in the virtual 2020 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) slated from 23-29 November 2020. Among those that will be featured are the GALING-PCAARRD Program agricultural technologies, food production, and livelihood opportunities.
Furthermore, this year’s science fair will have activities for students who want to venture into the food business, the “Food Safety Career: What is it in Food Safety R&D, TekPinoy.biz, a virtual activity that will showcase technology on alternative livelihood for OFWs, and many others.
The public is invited to join the 2020 NSTW celebration and its many forums and webinars. For more information and updates regarding the 2020 NSTW, please visit the www.nstw.dost.gov.ph and its Facebook page or send your messages to nstw.secretariat@gmail.com and nstw2020.promotions@gmail.com. (S&T media service, Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin)
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DOST unveils virtual activities for the 2020 S&T fair celebration
By: Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII
With less than a month to go, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has formally released the complete list of activities that will be featured during the first ever virtual celebration of the 2020 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) from 23 to 29 November.
Carrying the theme, Agham at Teknolohiya: Sandigan ng Kalusugan, Kaayusan, Kabuhayan, at Kinabukasan, the DOST and the different agencies and regional offices will banner several activities that include a total of 27 virtual fora, workshops, career talks, technology and project launchings, and film showings that will highlight different innovative solutions and new S&T knowledge related to livelihood and business, safety, health, education, disaster preparedness, and community development.
For the first time in history, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be staging the 2020 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration in virtual mode from 23-29 November.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Agham at Teknolohiya: Sandigan ng Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kaayusan, at Kinabukasan”, aims to highlight the numerous initiatives of the DOST, agencies, regional offices, and the entire scientific community in the area of research and development; practical technologies; innovation in agriculture, industry, and health; technical services and trainings; and technology upgrading assistance to entrepreneurs to help every Filipino adapt to the new normal brought about by COVID-19. (Photo from National Science and Technology Week Facebook page)
The 2020 NSTW will kick-off at 10:00 AM on 23 November with a virtual opening ceremony to be followed by a 30-minute press briefing to be attended by top DOST officials led by Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.
From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, there will be the Remote Learning Experience of PSHS System with Pisay sharing their STEM education strategic plan for their scholars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will be followed, at 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, by a series of TED-Talks-inspired sessions to be conducted by the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). It will tackle the contributions, developments, and impacts of the various technologies such as the RxBox telemedicine, GINAHWA, and Project SIBOL to communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the first day ends, the OneStore Hub: SETUP on the Go will be launched at 3:00 PM, followed by the Cybersecurity: Are We Serious About It? at 4:00 PM, wherein a DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) expert
[in the field of Engineering and Industrial Research, Mathematical Sciences and ICT] will talk on the different kinds of cyberattack and how one can be protected against it.
On 24 November, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, the DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) will conduct the 3rd IndieSiyensya Film Exhibition to showcase the winning entries in their recent competition. It will be followed by DOST-Food Nutrition and Research and Institute’s (FNRIs) Nutriflix from 11:00 AM -1:00 PM. Meanwhile, the DOST-Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) will hold the Disaster Resilience Summit on Earthquake and Volcano Preparedness from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and will be followed by the SETUP Forum: Gearing Up for Industry 4.0 to be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
On 25 November, there will be the CEST Forum organized by the DOST Regional Offices from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. CEST or Community Empowerment through Science and Technology is one of the flagship programs of the DOST that provides assistance to rural communities with interventions in education, health, sanitation, livelihood enterprise, and disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
Thereafter, the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) will conduct the Online Kwentuhan with S&T Idols from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. This will be followed by the DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) that will hold a virtual forum on TELA Sustainability in Textile and Fashion from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
On 26 November, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, a webinar will tackle S&T initiatives to include DOST’s collaboration with international partners to combat the current pandemic. It will be followed by the Lecture Series and Symposium for the Youth organized by the DOST-National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Then, the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) will conduct a webinar showcasing their state-of-the-art facility, the Electronics Product and Development Center as a platform for inclusive innovation and collaboration from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. On the other hand, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the DOST-Industrial Technology and Development Institute (ITDI) will introduce different technical services for various industries that are proven to help improve productivity, efficiency of operation, and market competitiveness.
On 27 November, the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) will conduct a Bamboo Musical Instruments (BMI) Virtual Concert from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM. It will be followed by Food Safety Careers: What is it in Food Safety R&D? of the DOST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The next event will be another from DOST-NRCP where an expert will share insights on the science behind dreams from 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM. To cap the day will be the webinar of DOST-PAGASA on Bagyo at Baha, Bata at Matanda ay Ligtas from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
On 28 November, the line-up of the webinars include the following: Galing-PCAARRD Kontra COVID19: Pagkain at Kabuhayan Sa Pamayanan from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM; Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCEN): Manufacturing Beyond the Conventional by the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Regulating Nuclear Facilities and Activities in the Philippines by the DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM; and iSTART: Bridging Gaps, Reducing Inequalities by the DOST-Caraga from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
For the last day, 29 November, DOST-SEI will now have their 4th IndieSiyensya Film Exhibition from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and webinar on the DOST Courseware and Mathematics for e-Learning from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The last event for the celebration will be an orientation on Manufacturing Productivity Extension for Export Promotion (MPEX) organized by the DOST Region VI office.
The different virtual activities will either be open to the public and some by invitation only. This will be indicated in the program of activities that will soon be released and published in the website so stay tuned to www.nstw.dost.gov.ph and the official Facebook page of National Science and Technology Week in the coming weeks.
