ENERO 19, 2021-SERYOSONG usapin ang malnutrisyon, at sa isang bansang kagaya ng Pilipinas na kapuluan, unang nakikita ay ang kalagayan ng mga mangingisda, pangisdaan at ang kanilang mga nahuhling isda kung ito ba ay sumasapat sa kanilang ikabubuhay.

Nitong Enero 15, 2021 pinangunahan ng Agricultural Science Division ng National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) ang isang Webinar kung saan kanilang pinag usapan ang tungkol sa kalagayan ng ating mga laman-dagat na nahuhuli sa tubig tabang.

Naglahad ng kanyang presentasyon si Academician Rafael D. Guerrero III, isang PhD sa Fisheries management at itinturing na isa sa mga dalubhasa ng bansa sa usaping ito.

Ayon sa kanyang presentasyon na may titulong: Commercially Caught Fishes in the Philippines-Status, issues and recommendations. Kanyang inilahad ang kalagayan, mga suliranin at posibleng solusyon.

Ang kalagayan ng fresh water fish catch sa mundo hindi lang sa bansa at lubhang sapat para mapakain ang  maraming tao mula sa mga ilog, lawa, swamp at reservoir.

Bukod sa talamak na polusyon bnga ng pagdami ng tao, hindi tamang pamamaraan ng pangingisda o pag I introduce ng mga invasive species na nakikipag kumpitensya sa kakainin ng mga endemic na isda ay nagbubunga ito ng pagkaubos gaya ng nangyayari sa Tawilis na tanging sa lawa ng Taal lamang mahuhuli.

Mahalagang papel ang ginagampanan ng pagtutulungan nang Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) at ng Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Department of Agriculture-National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center. Dumarami ang supply ng mga isdang dati ay malapit ng maubos.

Edukasyon, patutulungan sa pagitan ng mga mangingisda, sangay ng pamahalaan at ng pamahalaang local ang susi pang muling mapasigla ang inland fisheries sector.

Kabilang sa mga nakibahagi sa nasabing webinar ng NAST Agricultural Sciences Division ay sina Academician Rafael D. Guerrero III, PhD in Fisheries Management ng NAST; Academician Eufemio T. Rasco ang Chairman ng NAST Agricultural Sciences Division; Engr. Eduardo V. Manalili, Director ng Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division ng DOST-PCAARRD; Dr. Angel B. Encarnacion, OYS 2014 at Senior Fisheries Regulations Officer ng DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia ng DA-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute at Dr. Armi G. Torres, Post Doctoral Fellow ng Quantitative Aquatics Inc.///Michael Balaguer, +639262261791, konekted@diaryongtagalog.net   

Taliba Soap Manufacturing, PHP Noodle House inspire SIMCO with their S&T-based enterprises
By: John Maico H. Hernandez, DOST-PSTC Batangas
 Taliba, SAN LUIS, BATANGAS — The Science and Technology (S&T)-based enterprises of both Taliba Soap Manufacturing and People Helping People (PHP) Noodle House have left an inspiration to members of San Isidro Multipurpose Cooperative (SIMCO) who conducted a benchmarking activity on January 13.

SIMCO General Manager, Ms. Marites Ramirez expressed her admiration on how both organizations continuously champion their enterprise despite certain limitations on workforce and operations. On her message during the debriefing meeting, she shared how inspiring the workers are who at their elderly ages still manage to run these enterprises. “Nakakahanga po na kahit marami sa kanila ay senior citizens ay napapatakbo nila ng maayos ang kanilang negosyo,” she said.

The discussion of both enterprises’ success stories was the root of Ms. Ramirez’s admiration. At Taliba Soap Manufacturing’s production facility, Ms. Luzviminda S. Bonsol, Organization Leader, mentioned how they all worked hard to establish and sustain the operations of their enterprise. She shared to members of SIMCO how they looked for market channels when it was too difficult to introduce their product at the very beginning. “Lahat kami noon after magproduce, maglalako pa ng product para mai-dispose. Kanya-kanyang lako kami. Hiwa-hiwalay para lang makilala din ang aming produkto,” she mentioned.

In terms of workforce and individual income, Ms. Bonsol highlighted how they are still able to perform their individual functions and benefit from it considering their ages. To her, their age has never been an issue in carrying out their functions and in running their enterprise. Although majority of them are senior citizens, Ms. Bonzol took pride in sharing to members of SIMCO that they are all in good health.

At PHP Noodle House’s production facility, a different set of women unfolded their success story. Ms. Aurea Addun, President, shared how they strived to form the enterprise with the help of PHP and revived it after a downfall despite financial challenges. Similar to Taliba Soap Manufacturing, PHP Noodle House has also experienced looking for distribution channels in different parts of Batangas province before having established markets, as Ms. Addun mentioned.

During the interview, both Ms. Bonsol and Ms. Addun underscored the assistance that a private couple in their barangay offer. To them, their enterprises would have not been possible if not because of the couple who offer them support and financial assistance, aside from being advisers, without expecting anything in return. According to Ms. Bonsol, the primary objective of the couple was to make women in their barangay productive by providing them with a sustainable livelihood so they can avoid gambling. “Ayaw nila na may makikitang miyembro na nasa sugalan. Mahigpit nilang ipinagbabawal yun. Hinihikayat din nila na magsimba ang miyembro kung makakasimba,” she added.

Ms. Mila Achico, member of SIMCO’s Board of Director, articulated her regard to both the organizations after hearing their stories. Since she’s also working for Batangas City’s Office of Senior Citizen, she also conveyed her idea of bringing some senior citizens to both enterprises to inspire them of the maximum they can do as aged group of individuals. Likewise, she reiterated how they can adopt the strategies that the group executed in introducing their products, looking for markets, and sustaining their enterprises.

A tour in both facilities was also conducted. Ms. Rufina Salvador, former President of Taliba Soap Manufacturing, explained how the production process takes place. She also showed the different processing areas in the facility and provided some insights and practices they observe during production. Meanwhile, Ms. Aurea Addun facilitated the tour at PHP Noodle House. There was an on-going production at the time of visit and members of SIMCO were able to witness how they function with strict compliance to food safety.

The benchmarking activity was an initiative of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and DOST PSTC Batangas in a move to provide members of SIMCO with a personal view and experience of how S&T-based community enterprises like Taliba Soap Manufacturing and PHP Noodle House operate. This was also part of the technical support that DOST PSTC Batangas provides to the group after the provision of technology training on the production of cleaning and disinfection products last November 18, 2020.

Both enterprises were recipients of DOST PSTC Batangas projects. Taliba Soap Manufacturing was a 2-time SETUP adoptor while PHP Noodle House was also a 2-time beneficiary of GIA-CBP.

AIM harnesses AI to curb water shortage in Metro Manila
Researchers from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help curb water shortages in the east service area of Metro Manila.

The research team, led by Dr. Christopher Monterola, under the AIM-Analytics, Computing, and Complex Systems Laboratory (ACCeSs), developed a simulation modeling software to enhance Manila Water Company’s (MWC) capability in forecasting the water supply system of Angat-Ipo-La Mesa Dams and its treatment plants and storage reservoir.

“The forecast models will serve as a tool in day-to-day operations of the MWC for the enhanced distribution of water supply in the Manila East Zone to cater the needs of its consumers—household, business, and industries,” said Monterola.

The team shared that they integrated different statistical, machine learning models, and input parameters in the development of reliable forecast models from the water source to the MWC treatment plants.

They have already completed the development of forecasting models for each dam. Currently, the project team is continuously retraining and redesigning the simulation model software by adding more input parameters relevant to the improvement of their methodology and model architectures.

The team is proud to share that their modeling software can also be used to forecast the water supply of other dams in the Philippines, providing more opportunities for other agencies to get the benefit of this tool.

The AIM-ACCesS team, with MWC, started this project in February 2020 with support from the Department of Science and Technology’s Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Program and monitoring efforts from DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).

“With much data that is already out there, it is high time that we maximize the power of emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to improve and affect the daily lives of Filipinos. AIM’s forecast modeling fulfills this by seamlessly providing apt agencies with helpful data as basis for decision and policy making on water supply to avoid shortages,” said DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit. (30)