(Cabuyao, Laguna)- With the aim of strengthening the research capacity of the Laguna Province, the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and the University of Cabuyao (UC) officially inaugurated the Data Analytics-Network Grid and Automation Laboratory (DANGAL) on May 26, 2023. 

The UC (PNC) DANGAL seeks to promote community partnerships and industry collaborations with a focus on immediate translation to research and practice, leveraging and diversifying DOST PCIEERD-funded resources, integration across the computing and engineering disciplines, and creating a competitive advantage in research and development on a global scale.

The Php 7 million laboratory will also concentrate on warehouse automation, which includes automated storage and retrieval systems, autonomous mobile robots, automatic guided vehicles, pick-to-light and put-to-light systems, voice picking and tasking, automated sortation systems, and goods-to-person (GTP) systems.

Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Executive Director of DOST-PCIEERD, emphasized that there should be recognition of cutting-edge research, which requires state-of-the-art facilities and well-equipped laboratories since this is a part of the Institution Development Program (IDP) of the council. "It is important that we ensure that our institutions have the necessary resources to pursue innovative research and development”, said Paringit.

The UC (PNC) Dangal Research Laboratory also represents the institution's dedication to fostering the advancement of technology development and seizing the opportunities brought by Industry 4.0, according to Dr. Paringit. This lab will operate as a catalyst for cooperation, information exchange, and research improvements both inside and outside the confines of this university and in the Laguna Province's manufacturing sectors.

He also reminded the University of Cabuyao’s faculty and students to regard the UC Dangal Research Laboratory as more than a physical space filled with equipment and advanced technologies. "May this be a symbol of the aspirations and ambitions of the students and researchers and a space where ideas will flourish, where innovation will be nurtured, and where solutions to real-world challenges will be born”, narrated by Paringit.

UC (PNC) DANGAL’s Project Leader Engr. Mary Grace Beaño also motivated the UC teachers and students during her talk on the importance of the lab in terms of capacity building and its dedication to national development through research and development. The lab also aspires to increase the skills of the College of Computing and Engineering by promoting practical training for both staff and students and by enhancing the data analytics, network, grid, and automation processes between Laguna industrial firms and the university, mentioned by Engr. Beaño.

UC (PNC) DANGAL is the city's first laboratory supported by PCIEERD’s Institution Development Program (IDP). IDP is an existing program that strengthens the capability of institutions to undertake research in industry, energy and emerging technology fields. This program covers provision of support for the establishment and upgrading of research laboratories and facilities of academic and research institutions in the country. 

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) urged government to consider the Philippine’s first locally made air quality monitoring device, Robust Optical Aerosol Monitor or ROAM as a prerequisite for the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

In its policy brief, DOST-PCIEERD pushed for a standard use of air quality monitoring devices (AQMDs), specifically ROAM, for industries that release high amounts of particulate matter into the air.

“Standardize the use of AQMDs, especially ROAM, in industries that primarily contribute to high concentration of particulate matter by adding it as a pre-requisite before obtaining an ECC from the DENR. In addition, the DENR may issue regulatory policies on the proper use, manufacture, fabrication, sale, importation, and exportation of aerosol monitors. Strategies to prevent counterfeit aerosol monitors from penetrating the Philippine market should also be strengthened,” the brief read. 

DOST PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit said the use of technologies such as ROAM in shaping public policy innovates governance as it makes government operations more efficient and effective.  

“We hope that government agencies will heed our call to have data-driven, research-based policies and we at DOST PCIEERD will help in carving out these standards and procedures,” he said. 

ROAM is a technology developed by researchers from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and used to monitor air quality and concentration of particulate matter (PM) in the air. ROAM uses laser illumination and a camera to obtain images of size-selected particles up to PM2.5 to measure PM concentration in the air. In addition, the device is also capable of reading temperature and humidity with at least a five (5) minute interval. 

“It is high time that relevant government agencies put focus and take actions on mitigating the environmental effects of our industries to the health of our citizens. We are certain that that ROAM would make a significant impact on the communities, especially those near high-risk areas,” Paringit said., 

Currently, the ROAM project of DOST-PCIEERD was able to locally fabricate 10 units of ROAM around the country. The device has also been employed and tested in a challenging environment in the municipalities of Agoncillo and Alfonso, Batangas for its commercialization, following the eruption of Taal Volcano, on June 12, 2021.

“As a leader and partner in enabling innovations in the Philippines, we enjoin our local government units to collaborate with our researchers in finding solutions in making our air cleaner through technologies brought about by research and development,” Dr. Paringit stated. 

Compared to other foreign aerosol monitors, ROAM costs significantly less in terms of production and maintenance as it is developed locally. The cost discrepancy does not affect the quality and efficiency compared with other foreign aerosol monitors, as verified by DENR-EMB.

DOST-PCIEERD encourages LGUs to capacitate their local industries to produce necessary materials to produce ROAM, adopt legal mechanisms and incorporate the use of ROAM in coal mine industries, as well as promoting and commercializing the use of this air monitoring device. In addition, DENR-EMB may pursue developing local certification and evaluation of aerosol monitors to not be dependent on foreign certifications.

Check the policy brief here: bit.ly/roampolicybrief

April 8, 2023 –The Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development would like to inform the public, especially our stakeholders from the media, the research community, and various government and non-government institutions, that the official Facebook page of the council was hacked on April 7, 2023, at 12 a.m.

As soon as we learned about the incident, we notified Facebook's parent company, Meta. DOST-PCIEERD is working closely with Meta to ensure that our services are not hampered in any way and to regain access to and control over our page.

We are aware of the value of our Facebook page to our clients who want to stay in touch. We want to reassure you that we are making every effort to resolve the problem as soon as possible. Data security for our clients is a key concern for us. We acknowledge that the page breach may have alarmed and perplexed some of our followers. Yet our services, client information, and systems we deploy were unaffected by this problem. We will continue to provide the same level of attention and support to our stakeholders.

Nonetheless, as a precaution, we ask those who follow our Facebook page to be wary of any odd online posts or behaviors and to report them right away to either our organization or Facebook.

We are committed to ensuring that this matter is resolved quickly, effectively, and with the utmost regard for PCIEERD's core values: integrity, innovation, and excellence.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Manila—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (CSB) formally inaugurated on March 22, 2023, the Benilde Hub of Innovation for Inclusion (HIFI), a technology business incubator for budding startups.

Under the DOST’s Technology Business Incubation Program and Benilde Trailblazer Startup (BTS) Incubation Program, the Benilde HIFI is a facility that will be a nurturing ground for startups focused on the creative industries.

DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit said the Benilde HIFI plays a potent rule in moving forward the creative industries in the country.

“DOST and PCIEERD have invested Php 344 million and helped 59 state universities and colleges in the country establish their own TBIs through the Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HeIRIT) development program,” he narrated. “The funding includes Benilde HIFI, which will hopefully promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture throughout the nation. This collaboration with CSB also highlights the value of academic institutions in fostering startup growth and innovation across a range of industries”, as added by Director Paringit.

Benilde HIFI project leader Paul Amerigo Pajo Jr. said the primary objective of the BTS Incubation is to select and nurture startups connected to and related to the digital interactive and design domains.

"Startups will be selected primarily, but not exclusively, based on capstone and thesis projects completed by students, faculty research endeavors, and initiatives undertaken by alumni of the Benildean community, said Mr. Pajo. "This project can be a 'TBI force multiplier' through Benilde HIFI's nationwide network of La Salle schools, including the Visayas region, where there is no TBI focusing on creative industries."

The Benilde HIFI is the only TBI in the National Capital Region (NCR) and one of four technology business incubators in the country with creative industries. The CSB offers specialized academic programs that can aid in the debut and expansion of startups in these sectors.

Benilde HIFI is also coming up with a manual outlining the incubation process and daily activities of Benilde HIFI which can be used by other higher education institutions and state universities and colleges can use it in their own TBIs.

Startups in the digital interactive media and design industries in the NCR will be able to forge successful partnerships with key commercial and governmental institutions thanks to this facility.