DOST chief encourages Caraganons to embrace
S&T culture
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, May 28 (PIA) – With the goal of the
Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) to hit the road for nation’s
progress, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo encouraged the people of Caraga region
to set inclination towards science and technology (S&T) and take a leap in
introducing novel transformation and discoveries during his visit here on
Wednesday for a 3-day roadshow dubbed as "Science Nation: Agham
Ramdam."
“The greatest challenge of science and technology
is to come up with innovative initiatives to increase productivity of the
country. That is why our tour is focused on three key words: engage, inspire
and convert. Doing these things, we would be able to come up with effective
strategies to increase productivity," articulated Sec. Montejo in a press
conference facilitated by Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.
He cited that in terms of technological
development, Caraga region is really doing well to be at par with other
international innovations. “With its rich biodiversity, unlimited resources can
be utilized for a more useful product of research and discovery. It is then our
responsibility to protect and harness our natural resources," Sec. Montejo
said.
When queried about how far the department has gone
into disaster preparedness, he revealed that they are developing a strategy to
simplify the daily weather bulletin. “We are very optimistic that by 2016, all
the municipalities will have its scholars to learn how to localize the weather
forecasts," Sec. Montejo said.
Meanwhile, Asst. Secretary for Climate Change and
Disaster Risk Reduction Raymund Liboro presented the Reference for Emergency
and Disaster (RED) book published and exclusively distributed by DOST-Science
and Technology Information Institute (STII). As a product of ‘Iba na ang
Panahon: Science for Safer Communities’ campaign, the book serves as a
comprehensive reference for Disaster Preparedness and Guide for Disaster
Mitigation.
"The book also contains the media’s role in
disaster information, warning and communication protocols, among others. It
serves as a helpful guide for our media practitioners on what questions to ask
and what information to disseminate at times when weather disturbances arise in
specific area," Asec. Liboro said.
In addition, Sec. Montejo said that DOST is
continuously doing innovations for inclusive growth. "We believe that
science and technology department has created an impact considering that based
on records S&T have helped improved the poverty index of the poorest of the
poor in three years," the secretary emphasized.
This was strongly supported by the statement of
Caraga Regional Development Council chair and Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol
Matugas, who also sat as member of the press conference panelist, recounting
with pride and high regards the many contributions of her fellow public
servants for having effectively delivered their thrusts and have improved the
eco-tourism projects, infrastructure, as well as the mining industry which
addressed the employment concern of the region.
“So in general, by making eco-tourism as a major
industry of the region. It calls for more people to come in Caraga and as a
result it has helped boost its income. It is our way also of addressing
unemployment by providing more jobs, making people busy doing business while
self-employment is also very visible. The region is indeed fast
developing," expressed Gov. Matugas.
Aside from the press conference, the participants
also witnessed the presentation of Early Warning Devices and Site
Installations; Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing with Governors and City
Mayors; Presentation and launching of Eastern Mindanao Industry, Energy and
Emerging Technology Research Alliance for Development (EMIEERALD); and
Presentation and Commitment Signing of Caraga Food Safety Team.
Following the whole day events was the recognition
of the science ambassadors and Philippine Science High School-Caraga Region
Campus scholars during an evening fellowship with dances and serenade.
The Science Nation Tour aims to create meaningful
outcomes by catering to people everything that science and technology can
offer. Sec. Montejo is set for project visits in the provinces of Agusan del
Norte and Surigao del Norte that will run from May 27-29, 2015. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DOST’s STARBOOKS reaches Caraga
BUTUAN CITY, May 28 (PIA) - The latest innovation
in learning tools developed and introduced by the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) through its information arm, the Science and Technology
Information Institute (STII), has now reached the shores of the Caraga Region.
STARBOOKS, short for Science and Technology
Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station if often referred to
as the “library in a box” because it is actually a stand-alone kiosk that can
be placed in one corner of the school and students can easily access a wealth
of information about science and technology particularly research works of our
Filipino scientist and engineers.
STARBOOKS is DOST’s response to a call to make
science and technology available to more students in the regions as it aims to
make academic stars out of our students in the provinces. This unique
e-learning tool combines traditional and digital modes of education that allows
research activities to be done with just a click of the mouse.
“We at DOST want to encourage our students to take
up courses in science and technology because we believe that to achieve
inclusive growth we need to strengthen and beef up the pool of scientists,
engineers, programmers that we have today,” said DOST Secretary Mario G.
Montejo.
“That is why we developed STARBOOKS to make
S&T information more accessible to students in the regions,” he added.
STARBOOKS was launched at Robinson's Place Butuan
on Wednesday, May 27 in conjunction with DOST’s nationwide campaign called
Science Nation Tour from May 27 to 29 in the city. It is an initiative of the
department aimed at bringing down to the provinces notable inventions and
innovations of DOST in education, agriculture, manufacturing, information
technology, nanotechnology, healthcare, e-governance and disaster preparedness
and mitigation.
During the event, a memorandum of understanding
was executed by the DOST led by Secretary Montejo and other DOST officials
namely, Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro and DOST Caraga regional director
Dominga D. Mallonga.
Other events to be featured in the Science Nation
Tour in Caraga include the inauguration of the complementary food project of
the Gigaquit Women’s Center in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; ground breaking
ceremony and field testing of the Integrated Au-Cu Mineral Processing Pilot
Plant in Barangay Del Pilar in Agusan del Norte; the Science and Technology
Forum presenting LiDAR Flood Modeling, e-Health TABLET, Early Warning Devices,
Caraga Food Safety Team, and launch of Eastern Mindanao Industry, Energy, and
Emerging Technologies Research Alliance for Development (EMIEERALD).
(FEA/S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Coordination meeting set for Tandag City Nutrition
Committee members
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 28 (PIA) – Mayor
Roxanne Pimentel has called on members of the City Nutrition Committee (CNC)
for a coordination meeting at 8:00 a.m. on May 29, 2015 at Season’s Park
Apartelle here.
In her invitation letter dated May 19, 2015,
through City Administrator Alexander Pimentel, the city chief executive and CNC
chair cited, among others, several agenda for discussion, to wit: Review the
Plan and Accomplishment for Nutrition Program Implementation in CY 2014-2015;
Arrival of Regional Evaluation Team (RET) for Nutrition Program on June 8, 2015
to conduct Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Program Implementation
(MELLPI) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars Project, and; Plan for this year’s
41st Nutrition Month Celebration with the theme: “Timbang Iwasto sa Tamang
Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo!”
In closing, Mayor Pimentel shared the importance
of working together with “zeal and commitment,” saying that such is “a key
factor to building a productive and vibrant economy now and for generations to
come within our locality.” (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
LGU-SurSur aims for success in environmental
sanitation via solid waste management program
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 28 (PIA) – In
order to keep up with proper environmental sanitation, the Environment and
Natural Resources Office (ENRO) in Surigao del Sur has continued to monitor
implementation of solid waste management (SWM) program province-wide.
Edgar Valentin, ENRO chief here, said recently
that the SWM plans of all local government units (LGUs) indicating their
respective status have been submitted to the Environmental Management Bureau
(EMB).
He also mentioned several LGUs here whose plans
were endorsed to National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) for
thorough examination and approval.
Meanwhile, Valentin took pride in citing Hinatuan
and Carrascal towns as awardees “for having best practices in ecological solid
waste management.”
Likewise, the ENRO chief was glad to note that
NSWMC has provided funding assistance of P250,000 to Carrascal town “for the
establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRFs).”
A year ago, the ENRO facilitated the holding of
Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) meeting attended by mayors and
other concerned officials at the conference room of the Provincial Governor’s
Office (PGO) presided over by Governor Johnny Pimentel as chair.
Roles and functions of the board as stipulated in
Republic Act 9003 were discussed, Valentin bared.
During that meeting, a representative from EMB
gave updates on the compliance rate of LGUs in the province, it was learned.
(NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Cebuano News: HEALS Plus victory forum gipahigayon
sa Bacuag
Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mayo 28 (PIA) –
Gipahigayon bag-ohay pa lamang ang HEALS (Health, Education and Environment,
Agri and Aquaculture, Livelihood and Tourism, and Spiritual renewal) Plus
Victory Forum nga gitawag usab nga “Kapitolyo sa Barangay” didto sa lungsod sa
Bacuag, ning lalawigan.
Tumong ug tuyo sa maong aktibidadis mao ang
pagdala sa serbisyo sa kapitolyo ngadto na sa mga kabarangayan (bringing the
government closer to the people).
Sa buntag sa maong adlaw gipahigayon ang panambay
sa barangay diin moabot sa 200 ka mga pasyente ang nakatagamtam sa libreng
konsulta sa panglawas, 22 ka pasyente sa tuli, 100 sa dental services ug 15 ang
nakapahimulos papsmear.
Pagkahapon gipahigayon ang diyalogo ni Governor
Sol Matugas uban sa mga opisyales sa barangay sa siyam ka mga barangay sa maong
lungsod sa pagpangulo ni Mayor Sheila Mae Cebedo uban usab sa mga school
administrators.
Atol sa maong diyalogo gipresentar sa TEAM Capitol
ang mga serbisyo nga nabubo sa probinsya ngadto sa maong lungsod ubos sa HEALS
plus agenda sa gobernador labi na sa natad sa maayong panglawas, edukasyon,
agrikultura, livelihood, social services ug sa mga proyekto sa imprastruktura.
Nagpasalamat ang mga kapitanes sa maong lungsod
ngadto sa gobernador diin kinsa gihatagan sila ug panahon nga mabati ang ilang
mga yangungo ug mahatagan og solusyon ang ilang mga mulo. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
