DOST bares industry and energy research and dev’t plans for 2013

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA-8)
February 3, 2013

GOV’T CENTER, Palo, Leyte – With the high momentum gained from the impressive accomplishments in 2012, the Eastern Visayas Consortium for Industry and Energy Research and Development has set 3013 plans geared on the realization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan by addressing the research and development concerns of the industry, engineering and energy sector.

Department of Science and Technology Region 8 Director Edgardo Esperancilla informed that the 2013 R&D plans for industry and energy was finalized during the January 16-18 conference of the Eastern Visayas Consortium for Industry and Energy Research and Development, a consortium of government agencies and colleges and universities in the Region supported by DOST 8 and which has been a long time partner in the delivery of Science and Technology services in Eastern Visayas.

The 2013 plan has identified five (5) Key result Areas (KRAs) namely: Capability Building (HRD); R&D Projects; Resource generation; Promotion and Technology Transfer; and Operations and Management.

Director Esperancilla disclosed the R&D priorities for 2012 as R&D for Agribusiness particularly on functional foods such as the product development of Sago and the product development of Palawan, a root crop found only in the Region; R&D for Aqua Business particularly that of the Mussel, Fresh Water Prawn and Tinapa; and R&D on ICT and other engineering devices for industry applications. Another priority is the R&D on Rubber.

For this year, the EVCIERD has already confirmed its co-sponsorship of the August 19-21, 2013 Regional Inventions Contest and Exhibits (RICE 2013) which will be held at the Robinson's Place Activity Center, Tacloban City, Director Esperancilla said.

The DOST Director added that EVCIERD is also looking into the possibility of conducting benchmarking in Vietnam and Cambodia or China to enhance the knowledge of its members on the current technologies used in the industry and energy sectors of the aforementioned countries. He said that the consortium now includes international cooperation with Singapore-and Taiwan-research and development institutes.

Also this year, EVCIERD has already confirmed its co-sponsorship of the August 19-21, 2013 Regional Inventions Contest and Exhibits (RICE 2013) which will be held at the Robinson's Place Activity Center, Tacloban City. At the side, EVCIERD is also looking into the possibility of conducting benchmarking in Vietnam and Cambodia or China to enhance the knowledge of its members on the current technologies used in the industry and energy sectors of the aforementioned countries.

Director Esperancilla explained that the Consortium’s 2013 Plans are in keeping with the Eastern Visayas Consortium for Industry and Energy Research Strategic Plan 2012-2016 which was launched during the National Science and Technology Week celebration last year, and which maps out activities to be engaged in for the next five years in the areas of industry and energy in Eastern Visayas.

In the joint Board of Director (BOD) and Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) Meeting held last January 18, 2013 at the EVSU Executive House in Tacloban City, the RTWG headed by its Chairman, Dr. Francis Pitogo of Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), presented the plan to the Board headed by the President, Dr. Socorro O. Bohol, who is the President of NwSSU.

The plan was approved and will be implemented with the period of CY 2013, Engr. Ramil Uy, DOST Senior Science Research Specialists informed.

In the recent years, EVCIERD became the source of consultants for the implementation of the DOST’s program on Consultancy for Agricultural Productivity Enhancement (CAPE), Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program (MPEX), Energy Audit (EA), Food Safety Assessment, and the Cleaner Production Technology (CPT), Engr. Uy said.

Notwithstanding, the consortium also co- sponsored several major activities of the Department like the conduct of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits 2011 (RICE 2011) of which one of the entry from its members brought the bacon as winner in the national level of the contest last July 2012 during the NICE in consonance with the celebration of the NSTW 2012 at MOA, Pasay City.