Limang Kabataang Siyentista Finalist sa 2018 MFET/TWAS

LIMAng kabataang siyentista buhat sa ibat ibang paaralan sa bansa ang bibigyan ng parangal sa taunang Magsaysay Future Engineers/ Technologist Awards at Third World Academy of Science Prize for Young Scientist sa Pilipinas na pinangunahan ng National Academy of Science and Technology.Kabilang sa mga finalist na naglahad ng kani kanil

ang paper presentations ay sina Peter Nicolas S. Onglao ng UP Diliman, Berenice Dophnie C. Ruiz ng University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, John Christopher A. Danez ng UP Los Banos, Jayne Lois G. San Juan ng De La Salle University at Renzes Anne Gaerelle M. Gualberto rin ng UP Diliman.

Magwawagi ng $2000 ang siyentistang mapipili at plake, ang makukuha ay buhat sa apat na mga disiplina Biology, Chemistry Physics at Mathematics. Kabilang sa mga opisyales ng NAST DOST na dumalo ay mga dating Kalihima Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro at Dr. Felimon Uriarte na kapwa mga Academicians, Executive Director ng Philippine Council for Industry Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Engr. Raul Sabularse,

NAST President Dr. Rhodora V. Asanza, Tagapangulo ng Board of Judges Adacemician Angel L. Lazaro III at representante ni DOST Sec Fortunato T De La Pena, na si ASec Leah Buendia.///Michael Balaguer, 09333816694, michaelbalaguer@diaryongtagalog.net

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Villar underscores “what should be the role of R&D”

 Making sure that the outputs and results of research reach their intended beneficiaries, the Filipino farmers and fisherfolk — thus the focus of Senator Cynthia Villar’s message during the opening ceremony of the 14^th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition (NTF) on 30 August 2018 at SM Megamall, wherein she was the guest of honor.

He commended the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) for choosing “agripreneurship” as its theme this year and hoped that as the lead coordinating agency for research and development (R&D), the bureau will really ensure that the outputs and results of research will really reach the intended beneficiaries.

“Bakit ka magre-research kung hindi mo ma-iiapply sa buhay ng ating mahihirap na Pilipinong magsasaka at mangingisda. Di ba kaya nagreresearch para matulungan natin sila. Kaya pinopondohan ng gobyerno ang R&D, it is because the results of research will help uplift the lives of people in their practical applications,” said the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

She also mentioned that the NTF is relevant because it highlights the R&D outputs and technology of BAR under the NTCP which really play a vital role in the development of enterprises and improvement of agri and fisheries-related industry. “I hope BAR will not waver in its commitment to consolidate, strengthen, and develop the agriculture and fisheries R&D system for the purpose of improving its effectiveness and efficiency,” she added.

On the issue of food security and importation, the senator said that, “no matter how hard it is, we have to improve our production of food so that we will produce enough food for our people and we produce it in competitive prices.”

Also present during the opening was Agriculture Assistant Secretary Roldan G. Gorgonio, who represented Secretary Emmanuel F. Pińol. In his message, he commended the bureau for showcasing to the public the results of R&D and stressed the importance of mainstreaming food, non-food products, and generated technologies to the market through technology commercialization.

Asst. Sec. Gorgonio also said that in this technological era, farmers and fishers must also be equipped, trained and capacitated with modern technologies and must have access to right information in order for them to be truly competitive. He likewise posted a challenge to all agricultural R&D workers to adhere to the vision and mission of the Department of Agriculture on food security and sustainability. And in the pursuit of the mission, reducing poverty and making Philippine agriculture sustainable and globally competitive sector is a must. ### (Rita T. dela Cruz and Patrick Raymund A. Lesaca)

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DA-QARES’ cacao wine is 2018 NTF’s best product

testing 80 product entries for this year’s 14^th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition (NTF) Best Product was the cacao wine from the Department of Agriculture-Quezon Agricultural Research Experiment Station (DA-QARES).

Made from the seed pulp – a part of the fruit that it often regarded as waste, the cacao wine’s sleek packaging and labeling, exceptional product quality, and most especially its local and international market potential and competitiveness impressed the judges paving for its win at the forum’s annual product competition.

DA-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 2’s MangBean soup product landed on second place, while DA-RFO 11’s adlay products came third.  MangBean soup is one of the region’s product lines made from soybean. It is considered a highly-nutritious instant soup as soybean contains healthy amounts of protein, fiber, and ash, and has lower phytic acid than most legume crops. Meanwhile, adlay-based products instant mami is packed with adlay grains in native chicken flavor while the Adlay Pao is made from adlay flour with asado-flavored mushroom filling.

Finishing as fourth and fifth placers were the NutriConvy and Veggie Chips products developed by DA-RFO Caraga and 5, respectively. The NutriConvy products include muffin mix, adlay caldo, and pancake mix packed with adlay, squash, malunggay, and soybean as the main ingredients, with no preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors. The Veggie Chips, on the other hand, are a healthy alternative to junk food snacks such as chips or chichirya. These nutritious chips come in five flavors: ampalaya, squash, malunggay, tomato, and carrots.

Special awards were also given to various products that may have failed to meet the criteria but their ingenuity and uniqueness, one can’t just set aside. Sheep wool products and fossilized cacao leaves from DA-RFO CALABARZON; Malunggay pods decorations and cyperus grass products from DA-MIMAROPA; raffia grass products from DA-RFO 5; and the aloe vera-based products from Rescue Environment through Greening Outreaches, a Non-Government Organization based in Quezon province bagged this year’s special awards.

The NTF’s Best Booth competition also gives recognition to participating exhibitors who displayed creativity, originality, and uniqueness in designing their respective booths. The winners are: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM), first place; DA-MIMAROPA, second place; DA-RFO 1, third place; DA-RFO 5, fourth place; and DA-Caraga, fifth place. DA-RFO 2 and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office 2 also received special awards for the Best Booth category.

All entries for the Best Product category were evaluated based on the following criteria: creativity and uniqueness; relevance to food security; health and wellness; good product attributes; packaging and labeling; and market potential and competitiveness. For the Best Booth category, the following were the criteria: booth design (originality, uniqueness, creativity, use of indigenous materials, organization of display); booth contents (showcase of BAR-funded projects and presence of knowledge materials); and staff presentation (fully knowledgeable about the projects and products being showcased).

All winners received R&D grants from the bureau under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP). ### (Daryl Lou A. Battad)