week 5 to 6 major development

• According to Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippines ranked 59th at Global Innovation Index 2022, and was recognized as an extraordinary upward mover from 51st place in 2021

  
• The Philippines' rank in the latest GII challenges both government and private sectors to prioritize innovation
• Despite the challenges of the pandemic, DOST are fully committed to driving the local industry to succeed through investments in Science and Technology facilities and laboratory networks to support the local industry's productivity
• New leadership


  The change in administration came with the appointment of Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. by the current RP President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22, 2022
• During the 2022 NSTW Celebration, Sec. Solidum bannered local technologies and innovations highlighting the "effort and innovative solutions offered by the local scientific community" spearheaded by DOST and its attached agencies and the regions
• OneDOST4U


  • Eyeing one narrative for its customers
  • Transforming R&D-funded projects to commercialized products
• During the opening of the 2021 National Science and Technology Week, former DOST Sec. Fortunato De la Pena presented the major accomplishment in various sectors of Science, Technology, and Innovation
• The former Secretary pointed out notable services and facilities that would parallel local industries with their worldwide counterparts
• Completion of various state-of-the-art development facilities and laboratories (2016-2021)

  • Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen)
  • Materials Development Laboratory (MATDEV)
  • Advanced Mechatronics, Robotics, and Industrial Automation Lab. (AMERIAL)
  • Metals and Engineering Innovation Center
  • Simulation Packaging Testing Lab. and Green Packaging Lab.
  • Metrology in Chemistry Laboratory
  • DNA Sequencing and Bioinformatics Services
  • Philippine National Halal Laboratory and Science Center
  • Innovative Tissue Culture Laboratory or iLAB
• PHIVOLCS Mindanao Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PMCMCET) was established to increase further capabilities of the Philippine Seismic Network in the monitoring and warning systems in Mindanao
• PAG-ASA's additional 17 new doppler radars boost weather forecasting capabilities of the state weather bureau
• DOST-PHIVOLCS regularly tracks earthquake events and releases timely seismic information, and continuously monitors volcanic activities and releases information regularly
• The Philippine Seismic Network has expanded from 98 seismic stations in 2017 to 108 seismic stations nationwide
• R&D applications related to CCAM-DRR developed throughout the years

  • 2018 - Development of GeoRiskPH [Database] System
  • 2020 - launch of GeoMapperPH: Exposure Data Mapper and GeoMapperPH: Situation Data Mapper
  • 2021- Launch Spectral Acceleration Maps of the Philippines (SAM PH) Atlas
  • 2019 - launch of HazardHunterPH and GeoAnalyticsPH

  
• Science for Change Program (S4CP) components

  • NICER: Niche Centers for R&D
  • RDLead: R&D Leadership
  • CRADLE Program: Collaborative R&D to Leverage the Philippine Economy
  • Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program
• The Balik Scientist Program (BSP) has already engaged 603 Balik Scientists under 773 engagements in 130 host institutions from 1975 to August 2022 since its establishment in 1975
• The Balik Scientist Program (BSP) was strengthened with signing of Republic Act 11035 which mandated the institutionalized of the BSP in 2018
• S&T response to the pandemic

  • Tuklas Lunas Program: drug discovery program, developed 11 products in commercial stage and 21 new active ingredients discovered, 2 potential treatments undergoing clinical trials
  • GenAmplify: rT-PCR test kit developed by UP Manila and Manila HealthTek, Inc. to detect SARS-CoV-2
  • FASSSTER: decision-making tool for disease modelling
  • S-PASS: online travel management tool used by LGUs for domestic travel
• In 2020, the R&D on Health program supported 62 projects implemented by 23 institutions with a total funding of Php 222.5M from DOST and PCHRD
• Since 2013, total investments of DOST and PCHRD for the R&D on Health programs is about Php 1.5B with 28 institutions benefiting from R&D grants
• Locally developed ventilators for COVID-19 response

  • Ginhawa or ReliefVent
  • Spiritus Vitae of Don Bosco Technical College
  • Automated Emergency Ventilator of TIP
  • Neurovent System Neuromek Corp.
• A prototype adult pressure and volume controlled ventilator using Ostreavent Technology was developed for COVID-19
• Telepresence Terminals


  Proxy for health care workers in the high exposure areas of hospitals managing COVID-19 patients
• Ginhawa or Reliefvent


  • Compact, portable, can be Alternating Current or Direct Current powered, has embedded software for self-diagnostic cloud-based data analytics, with protocols for operations and troubleshooting
  • Can be used by both children and adults
• 3 Ginhawa prototypes have been completed and have undergone bench testing using the test lungs and other ventilator testing machines
• Locally developed ventilators


  • Spiritus Vitae of DOn Bosco Technical College
  • Automated Emergency Ventilator of TIP
  • Neurovent System Neuromek Corp., a startup compacy
• Development of a Prototype Adult Pressure and Volume Controlled Ventilator using Ostreavent Technology


  Implemented in 2020 to develop a low-cost and locally made ventilator for adults by converting the Ostreavent technology which is typically used among infants due to impending shortage for adult ventilators
• Herbal medicines are being studied as adjunctive treatment to COVID 19
• DOST is currently working to determine whether Lagundi and Tawa-tawa can provide symptomatic relief for COVID-19 patients and ultimately determine whether these can be added to the current standard of treatment to decrease the number of patients who progress from mild disease to moderate or severe disease
• In vitro experiments have shown promising results that compounds from coconut oil and virgin coconut oil decreased coronavirus count by 60-90% at low viral load
• Research is assessing the possible benefits of VCO if given to patients with moderate to severe COVID-19, in addition to the drugs being assessed in the clinical trials
• Malnutrition Reduction Program


  • Social development innovation which addresses the problem of malnutrition among 6 months to below 3 years old children
  • Composed of two components: 1) Supply of complementary food through technology transfer and establishment of complementary food production facilities, 2) Advocacy known as the DOST PINOY interventions which includes feeding of rice-mongo based complementary foods to children for 120 days and nutrition education of mothers and caregivers
• As of now, 33 complementary food production facilities were established in 17 regions and 33 provinces in the country, with 8 new upcoming CFPFs to be put-up in 2021-2022
• For the intervention component, 13 municipalities in 8 provinces were monitored, through actual visits and virtual platform for the rest of the year. A total of 968 children, aged 6 months to 5 years, benefited from the complementary feeding
• Bullet Resistant Vest from Engineered Bamboo


  • Woven bamboo paired with a stainless steel plate, light enough for use in combat, 700 percent cheaper than most imported body armors
• Bamboo Musical Instruments Innovation R&D Program

  • Aims to provide the country's bamboo musical instrument makers with science-based solution for their problems about sound quality, playability, tuning and durability
  • Also seeks to study the sources of raw materials and the existing market of the instruments
• Establishing Natural Dyes Center to Strengthen the Textile Industry

  Partnership of DOST-PTRI and Natural Crafts Connection Enterprise to establish and operationalize a commercial NatDyes productions and dyeing facility that will cater to the needs of the textiles industry in terms of making available natural dyestuffs and naturally dyed products
• Regional Yarn Production and Innovative Center (RYPIC)

  Realization of the Philippine Textile Research Institute's TELA Pilipinas advocacy, located at the ISAT U Campus in Miagao, Iloilo produces 50 kgs. of natural textile fiber blended yarns of cotton with abaca or pineapple leaf
• Space Technology Projects


  • DIWATA 1 - first microsatellite owned by the Philippine government
  • DIWATA 2 - successfully deployed into 600 km SSO orbit in 2018, captured 32,256 images around the world, 19,439 of which of the Philippines
  • MAYA 1 - one of the 3 CubeSat under the 2nd joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Project, launched in 2018 and completed its mission in 2020
  • MAYA 2 - recently completed and turned over to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2020
• Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP)

  Program empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, services, operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness