DOST’s MakiBayan program to raise PH productivity

By Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service

More jobs, more equipped workers, more businesses, and more income—these are the ultimate aims ofMakiBayan, the Department of Science and Technology’s solution in raising the productivity of the metals industry in the country. Short for “Makinaryaat Teknolohiyaparasa Bayan,” MakiBayan is a tripartite program that involves close collaboration among DOST, the metalworks and other allied industries, and the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT), a consortium of topnotch engineering universities across the country.

“The MakiBayan program is essentially an indicative roadmap that outlines the research and development thrusts for the industry in order to achieve more sustained growth and overall development of the industry,” said DOST Secretary Mario Montejo.

MakiBayan provides a more enabling environment to spur growth in the metalworks and other related industries by strengthening research and development to provide solutions to industry problems, developing needed machineries and technologies locally, and equipping the industry manpower through higher education and training.

Through MakiBayan, the program partners will be able to work more closely and share their resources to work on common goals. The industry can identify its technology needs and, through collaboration, will be able to produce the technology and machinery locally. This results in more accessible and lower-priced equipment that will minimize the industry’s dependence on imported machineries, and even increase its competitiveness to export products and machinery.

A more vibrant metals industry will create more business opportunities through new products and services, and will result in more job opportunities for Filipinos.

According to Sec. Montejo, a strong and brisk metalworking sector is an important component in increasing the gross domestic product in the local and global economy. Globally, the metals and allied industries employ some 70 million people worldwide and account for nearly half of the goods produced in the manufacturing sector and more than half of all merchandise exported worldwide in terms of value, he said.

Consequently, the metal industry is both a driving force of the world economy and is influenced to a large extent by the overall world economic climate.

“I thank the DOST, through the leadership of Secretary Montejo, for the MakiBayan Program. It has always been our aspiration to upgrade the status of the tool and die sector of the country. Now we can work together to bring this objective into reality,” said Luis Antonio T. Fuster, president of the Philippine Die and Mold Association, one of the industry partners of MakiBayan.

PDMA through MakiBayan aims to establish a common service facility to accommodate small and medium enterprises who cannot afford to purchase costly pieces of equipment.

Other industry partners include the Metalworking Industry Association of the Philippines and the Electronics Industry Association of the Philippines, Inc.“We at MIAP are privileged to be part of this event in crafting the roadmap of the metalworking sector. As a gesture of  gratitude we are taking a bold stance by accepting the challenge as one of the government partners in working towards improving productivity in the metal sector,” said Virgilio F. Lanzuela, MIAP president.

To produce more experts to work locally, “the industry can tell us its manpower needs and we will produce them,” assured Dr. Aura C. Matias, ERDT Program Leader. ERDT consists of eight universities with strong engineering curriculum, namely Ateneo de Manila University, Central Luzon State University, De La Salle University, Mapua Institute of Technology, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, and University of San Carlos.

The MakiBayan partners will complete a collaborative research and development (R&D) roadmap that will frame plans, projects, and milestones from 2012 to year 2016. The roadmap is expected to propel the metalworks, machinery and allied industries in the country toward greater  competitiveness both in the local and global markets.

Piliin ang mga produktong may Sangkap Pinoy Seal

Alam ba ninyo na sa mga kabahayan na nakasama sa surbey ukol sa mga

produktong pagkain na may Sangkap Pinoy Seal (o SPS), walo sa bawa’t sampu sa

kanila ang bumibili ng produkto na may SPS? Ito ay ayon sa 7th National Nutrition

Survey na isinagawa ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute ng Department of

Science and Technology (o FNRI-DOST). Tandaan, pag bumibili ng processedfoods,

laging hanapin ang tatak ng Sangkap Pinoy.

Ang Sangkap Pinoy Seal o SPS ay tatak na ibinibigay ng Department of Health

bilang katunayan na ang mga produktong mayroon nito ay nakapasa sa tamang

antas ng food fortification o dagdag sustansiya gaya ng bitamina A, yero (o iron)

at yodo (o iodine).

Makakamit ang tamang nutrisyon sa abot-kayang presyo sa mga produktong

pagkain na may SPS.

Ngunit tandaan na ang pagkain ng iba’t-ibang uri ng pagkain ang siya pa ring

tuntunin sa tamang nutrisyon at kalusugan.

Ang impormasyong ito ay hatid sa inyo ng FNRI_DOST, ang pangunahing ahensiya

ng gobyerno sa pananalilsik sa pagkain at nutrisyon. Para sa karagdagang

impormasyon at kaalaman sa pagkain at nutrisyon, sumulat o tumawag kay

Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Direktor, FNRI-DOST sa kanyang email address:

mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com o sa telepono bilang 837-2934/837-

3164 Maari ding bisitahin ang FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.

(FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA Bulacan)

Produkto mula sa yakon ginawa ng FNRI

Alam ba ninyo na ang yakon ay tumutulong sa pagpapababa ng lebel ng asukal

at kolesterol sa dugo? Ang yakon ay isang uri ng lamang-ugat na matatagpuan sa

Nueva Vizcaya, Misamis Oriental, Cordillera at iba pang bulubundukin na lugar.

Ayon sa pag-aaral ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute ng Department of

Science and Technology o FNRI-DOST, ang yakon ay maaaring gawin sa ibatibang

produkto gaya ng tsaa, juice, salad, at iba pa.

Ang mga lamang-ugat gaya ng yakon ay nagbibigay ng enerhiya at lakas sa

katawan. Ang kakulangan sa pagkain ng karbohydrat (o carbohydrates) ay

hahantong sa mababang timban, panghihina, pagkahilo at pagbaba ng l;ebel ng

asukal sa dugo, ayon sa Gabay sa Wastong Nutrisyon” ng FNRI-DOST.

Ugaliing kumain at maghanda ng mga lamang-ugat tulad ng yakon, kamote,

kamoteng-kahoy, ube at iba pa, upang maiwasan ang sakit na diyabetis at

altapresyon.

Ang impormasyong ito ay hatid sa inyo ng FNRI_DOST, ang pangunahing ahensiya

ng gobyerno sa pananalilsik sa pagkain at nutrisyon. Para sa karagdagang

impormasyon at kaalaman sa pagkain at nutrisyon, sumulat o tumawag kay

Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Direktor, FNRI-DOST sa kanyang email address:

mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com o sa telepono bilang 837-2934/837-

3164 Maari ding bisitahin ang FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.

(FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA Bulacan)

DOST studies tawa-tawa as potential cure for dengue, TB

By Luisa Soriano-Lumioan, S&T Media Service

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), is currently doing studies on tawa-tawa’s (scientific name Euphorbia hirta) anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties and its supposed ability to increase blood platelets.The discovery of tawa-tawa’s active ingredient will lead to the development of treatments for dengue and tuberculosis.

Tawa-tawa and other Philippine herbs are current research priorities in DOST’s drug development program which looks into natural substances from plants and animals as possible sources of cure for diseases.

“Natural products research in the country is being refocused and modernized by DOST as competition in the increasingly global industry becomes more intense,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said.

An analysis of drug origins from 1981-2002 showed that28 percent of new chemical entities (NCE)are from natural products.

“This is a significant percentage,” said Dr. Jaime Montoya, DOST-PCHRDexecutive director.

An NCE is a molecule developed at theearly stage of the drug discovery process. Itgoes through clinical trials before it is developed into a drug that could cure certain diseases.

That most NCEs come from natural productssuggests that natural products are important sources of new drugs or lead compounds suitable for further modifications during drug development, Dr. Montoya explained.

Drug development is one of the priority programs of DOST-PCHRD starting this year. To harmonize drug discovery researches in the country, the Council launched  "Tuklas Lunas" (Filipino for cure discovery) Centers  to build the health research capacity in the regions. Named as the first Tuklas Lunas Center in the country is the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) campus, to be followed by two more research institutes in Luzon and the Visayas.

Along with developing new drugs from natural products, DOST-PCHRD will also embark on development of diagnostic kits for priority diseases, genomics and molecular technology; functional foods; hospital equipment and biomedical devices; information and communication technology (ICT) in health; and chronobiologyor the study of the effects of night and day to living organisms. PCHRD in particular will study the effect of shifting work schedules for workers in the Business Process Outsource industries, Dr. Montoya revealed.

PCHRD, one of the sectoral councils of DOST is mandated to formulate policies, plans, programs, project, and strategies for health science and technology development; program and allocate government and external funds for research and development; monitor research and development projects; and generate external funds.

Root crops keep bad cholesterol down, DOST study says

By Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service

If you want to control your cholesterol level, better include camote or its cousins in your daily fare. In a study by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute, it was found that root crops abundant in the country can keep bad cholesterol level down.

 Led by DOST-FNRI’s Dr. Trinidad Trinidad, the study team discovered that daily intake of root crops significantly lowers  bad cholesterol levels in the body.

“Root crops are able to lower bad cholesterol levels because of their dietary fiber content,” said Dr. Trinidad. Dietary fiber or roughage is that part of the vegetable or fruit that is not digested and not absorbed in a human's digestive tract.

“Dietary fibers come from a family of carbohydrates that ferments in the colon, turning into short-chain fatty acids that release energy,” Trinidad explained. “These fatty acids include butyrate, which prevents the risk of colon cancer, and propionate which helps prevent cholesterol synthesis.”

Aside from dietary fiber, root crops also contain vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and iron.

The study involved subjects aged 30-55 years, physically and mentally fit, and with moderately-raised serum cholesterol levels.  The subjects were non-smokers and were not under any medication. They were all fed with test food for two weeks.

The team used various root crops such as camote (sweet potato), gabi (taro), tugi (lesser or Chinese yam), ube (purple yam), and cassava.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that the cholesterol level of the subjects remained stable. Trinidad’s team concluded that root crops, due to their cholesterol-lowering effect, would be important in the proper control and management of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases.

In individual analysis, the team found that all the root crops used in the study decreased the level of bad cholesterol, especially cassava and camote. The team also discovered that tugi, a root crop abundant  in the north, even increased good cholesterol.

In another study, researchers found that corn is good for the heart. It contains

folate that lowers the level of homocysteine, a kind of amino acid that damages the lining of arteries and may make blood clot more easily than it should. High homocysteine levels may lead to heart attack.

Corn also has thiamin and pantothenic acid that help in producing energy for the body and in reducing stress.

Root crops and corn are traditional Filipino foods that, in some parts of the country, serve as staple food. For the average Filipino, root crops and corn are best eaten as snacks—tasty, filling, and inexpensive.

So if you want to keep your cholesterol down, junk the grease and go back to eating boiled corn, camote, and cassava. “These foods used to be labeled as ‘pagkain ng mahirap’ (food for the poor) but now it is also for the rich,” quipped Trinidad.

Even that sweet camote que is good, “as long as there’s not much sugar in it and you eat in moderation,” Trinidad advised.

DOST eyes prospects for abaca industry

Abaca, considered as the strongest natural fiber in the world, s the only one that can match the durability of synthetic fibers. Because of abaca’s strength, it was originally used for ship rigging and other heavy-duty industrial applications.  Up to the present, the Philippines is the world’s leading producer of abaca fiber, which is why abaca is also called Manila hemp.

It is mainly grown in the Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions and remains the backbone of the livelihoods of thousands of families in those parts of the country. 

Because of abaca’s socioeconomic impact on many Filipinos, the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), a research and development agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), continues to encourage activities that strengthen the abaca industry.

 In a DOST- ITDI-sponsored seminar, Dr. Hitoshi Takagi of the University of Tokushima in Japan, discussed the topic “Characterization of Abaca Fiber Reinforced Green Composites,” in which he offered a comparative study between the properties of untreated abaca fiber and abaca fiber treated with green composites.

 According to Dr. Takagi, the said process strengthens every single strand of a fiber by solidifying its lumen, or the strand’s hollow part. The use of green composites, he added, will make abaca fiber stronger and more heat resistant than bamboo fiber.

As such, this process has the clear potential to boost and revive the local abaca sector by posing a challenge to the dominance of synthetic fibers in the global market.

 Meanwhile, Dr. Byung-Sun Kim, a principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Material Science (KIMS), gave a detailed look on the many and varied applications of natural fiber composites in items around us.

Among the many uses he presented was the use of abaca fiber as roofing material for public utility jeepneys. Dr. Kim said that unlike steel, abaca has lower heat conductivity that can keep temperatures cooler inside the jeep, a major benefit considering the country’s tropical warmth and humidity.

Likewise, he urged Filipinos to patronize locally handcrafted bags made from natural fibers as a substitute for plastic bags when shopping. He noted that the use of “bayong” was common but has since fallen out of favor among shoppers. However, Dr. Kim said that plastic bags contribute significantly to the growing problem of waste disposal, and that these are often the reason for the clogging of sewers and waterways especially in Metro Manila.

 Dr. Kim is also looking forward to collaborating with ITDI in abaca fiber R&D, a proposal met with support in the gathering because of its potential impact to abaca producers as well as related industries such as ropemaking, handicraft, and garments.

 The  Seminar on Natural Fiber Composites was participated in by representatives from other government agencies, entrepreneurs, and university students. (Ceajay N. Valerio, S&T Media Service)

Local experts eye sponges, snails to discover new drugs

By Luisa S. Lumioan, S&T Media Service

Researchers from University of the Philippines are studying marine microorganisms in sponges that may lead to the discovery of new drugs for tuberculosis, pneumonia and other infectious diseases, and snails that could provide anti-pain agents.

Led by UP’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Gisela P. Concepcion, researchers from the UP Marine Science Institute (MSI) have isolated microorganisms associated with sponges and are currently confirming their anti-infective  properties or ability to combat infections. This is part of the program called Pharmaseas Marine Drug Development Program which was funded by Department of Science and Technology--Philippine Council for Marine and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCMARRD) which is now Philippine Council for Agriculture Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

Also part of the Pharmaseas program is the discovery of anti-pain drugs from the venom of turrid snails. Anti-pain drugs are important in the management of cancer and other debilitating illnesses.

Sponges, the oldest multi cellular animals, are regarded as the “most successful organisms.” They are physically defenseless, soft-bodied and sedentary making them easy prey, yet they have survived millions of years. According to experts, their survival rests on their ability to produce different kinds of bioactive compounds to protect themselves.  Scientists recently have discovered that microorganisms in the tissues of sponges produce some of these compounds. 

The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens or microorganisms that cause diseases has propelled the need to produce new drugs.  The researchers from MSI have isolated compounds that could be used to produce new drugs to combine with existing antibiotics. Combination therapy is the thrust nowadays to combat drug-resistant pathogens, according to Dr. Concepcion.

The researchers have isolated and characterized several peptides, in which molecules are formed by joining two or more amino acids or building blocks of proteins, from the venoms of turrid snails that were collected from the rich marine diversity of the Philippines.

Aside from the two main projects of Pharmaseas which entail isolating, purifying and characterizing compounds from marine microorganisms and venoms of turrid snails for drug discovery, there are three other support projects under the program.

The first support project, MMO’s and Turrids: Collection, Ecology, Biology, and Bioinformatics, successfully gathered data for the program and this database website can now be accessed through the UP local network.

The researchers were also able to do optimization studies for the culture of bioactive compounds through another support project “Marine Microorganisms: Characterization and Culture Optimization.”  Culture optimization will let the researchers culture the microorganisms in the laboratory so that they do not have to keep collecting the sponges thereby preserving marine biodiversity.

The researchers of the last support project, Marine Microorganisms and Turrids: Genetics, Molecular Phylogeny and Gene Expression, are classifying the organisms and the turrids according to their genetic markers or specific genes that produce a recognizable trait and can be used in family or population studies.  The group is leading the classification of turrids which are at least 12,000 species worldwide 5,000 of which can be found in the Philippines.

The Pharmaseas program has so far achieved its objectives, but Dr. Gisela admits that the roll out of drugs based on their research will come in later.

“It is unrealistic to say that we can roll it out in five years. But if nobody is going to start now with the biodiversity that is right beside us, who is going to provide this 15 years from now?”  Dr. Concepcion said.

The average time for research and development for new drugs is around 15 years.

Dr. Concepcion and her team are now preparing the terminal report for the Pharmaseas program.  They have submitted a phase two proposal to continue its initial achievements.